The independent news outlet MintPress<\/a> was the first to report the initial deportation flight, which carried eight Palestinians and departed from Arizona to land in Tel Aviv on 21 January.\u00a0<\/p>\n The second flight took place on Monday. It was unclear exactly how many Palestinians were on board, but the luxury aircraft had 16 seats, The Guardian and +972 Magazine report said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Both flights were operated by\u00a0Dezer Development, which is a real estate company founded by dual Israeli-American citizen Michael Dezer. Today, his son Gil Dezer runs their real estate empire in Florida, the report revealed.\u00a0<\/p>\n When reached by The Guardian, the younger Dezer said he is never made aware of exactly who boards his jet when it\u2019s chartered by the US government through a Florida-based company called Journey Aviation \u2013 only the dates of use.\u00a0<\/p>\n Dezer is known to be good friends with the Trump family, and made a donation of more than $1m to Trump\u2019s presidential campaign.\u00a0<\/p>\n The US government typically uses commercial planes for deportations.<\/p>\n In this case, it is also unusual for the Israeli government to assist in the repatriation of Palestinians, particularly as they are going back to military-occupied territory.\u00a0<\/p>\n Israeli officials<\/a> have also made no secret of their desire to see Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza go to third countries.\u00a0<\/p>\n Middle East Eye reached out to the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security for comment.<\/p>\n \u201cPer longstanding Department policy, we do not discuss the content of private diplomatic and interagency conversations,\u201d a State Department official said in a written statement.<\/p>\n \u201cAs a general policy, the State Department coordinates closely with the Department of Homeland Security on efforts to repatriate illegal aliens, in alignment with E.O. [Executive Order] 14159, \u2018Protecting the American People Against Invasion.\u2019 The Trump Administration continues to prioritize the rapid deportation of illegal immigrants, especially those with criminal records, to restore border security and public safety and protect the American people.\u201d<\/p>\n The Department of Homeland Security did not respond in time for publication.<\/p>\n The flights reportedly refuelled in New Jersey, Ireland, and Bulgaria on their way to Ben Gurion Airport.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018Reprehensible\u2019<\/p>\n On Friday, opposition lawmakers in Dublin, Ireland, demanded answers, saying the permission to refuel in Ireland was \u201creprehensible\u201d, \u201cdeeply disturbing\u201d, and \u201coutrageous\u201d, The Irish Times reported<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Israeli raids across West Bank leave one dead and dozens detained<\/p>\n
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