38 Israelis Stranded in Peru Arrive Safely in Cusco

Jerusalem, 18 December, 2022 (TPS) -- A group of 38 Israelis stranded in Peru by escalating political violence have arrived safely in the town of Cusco, the head of the rescue team confirmed to the Tazpit Press Service on Sunday afternoon.

Hilik Magnus, the founder and chief rescue officer for Magnus International Search and Rescue told TPS that the next step is put all the Israelis on a flight to the Peruvian capital of Lima. From Lima, the Israelis will fly out of the country.

The Israelis were stranded near the village of Aguas Calientes, which is near Peru’s famed Machu Picchu historical site in the Andes Mountains. Magnus said they were not traveling as a group but “got stuck in the same place.”

He added that all the Israelis are okay.

“There’s nothing different about this rescue. After 30 years, we’ve seen it all,” Magnus told TPS.

Guides led the Israelis by foot across 10 km of terrain to a point where they were able to board vehicles for a six-hour ride to Cusco, the closest airport.

The trek through the Andes can be dangerous, even without the political violence. In August, a minibus carrying tourists out of Machu Picchu fell down a 100 meter ravine amid heavy fog, killing four tourists. Two Israelis and 14 others tourists of various nationalities were injured.

Peru has been rocked by widespread protests since then-President Pedro Castillo was arrested for trying illegally dissolve Congress on December 7. Protesters view Congress as corrupt, support Castillo, and demand the resignation of his successor, President Dina Boluarte who enacted a 30-day state of emergency.

At least 20 Peruvians have been killed in clashes with the police. The protests have paralyzed the South American country’s airports, highways and border crossings.