JERUSALEM, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Israel's flag carrier El Al announced Thursday that four chartered flights have been arranged to bring home overseas reservists on Saturday amid the country's large-scale military mobilization against the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas).
Two of the flights will depart from the U.S. city of New York and two others from Bangkok, Thailand, and Madrid, Spain, respectively, according to a statement issued by the airline.
The flights are intended for reserve soldiers who received an emergency call-up by the Israeli military, as well as other security and rescue personnel abroad whose presence in Israel is deemed essential, said the statement.
It added that the flights are free of charge, with El Al covering the costs along with financial entities of the United States.
Israel has called up a record 360,000 reservists, setting the stage for a possible ground offensive in retaliation for the deadly surprise attack by Hamas since Saturday. ■
