Thu Jun 19 23:50:00 UTC 2025: **Angolan Pilgrims Return Home After Harrowing Experience Amidst Israel-Iran Tensions**

**Luanda, Angola** – A group of 44 Angolan pilgrims have returned to Luanda, recounting a “horrific and devastating” experience after being stranded in Tel Aviv due to escalating tensions between Israel and Iran. The pilgrims, who were on a religious procession, arrived at the 4 de Fevereiro International Airport on Wednesday afternoon, having flown in from Ethiopia.

The group’s journey home involved a grueling 12-hour road trip to Cairo, Egypt, after they were evacuated from Tel Aviv following diplomatic efforts between Angolan and Israeli authorities.

“It was a horrific experience because a conflict of this magnitude between Iran and Israel, with missiles, bombs, drones, is a devastating experience,” said Maria Lima, a pilgrim from the Pentecostal Ministry of Faith and Liberation Church, to Rádio Nacional de Angola.

Pastor Ernestina Matias, leader of the church that organized the pilgrimage, explained that the conflict erupted on Friday morning, forcing the group to seek shelter in a bunker during missile attacks. “We heard the safety protocols, and whenever we heard the missiles, we had to go to the bunker. We spent more time praying for God to deliver us and for the airspace to open,” she told Televisão Pública de Angola.

According to Pastor Matias, the group left Tel Aviv on Monday after meetings between Angolan and Israeli diplomats. They then faced an exhausting road journey to Cairo.

Domingos Vieira Lopes, Secretary of State for International Cooperation and Angolan Communities, emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety of the pilgrims, acknowledging the unforeseen challenges they faced during their journey. He also praised the work of the Angolan embassies in Israel, Egypt, and Ethiopia for their assistance in facilitating the pilgrims’ return. “Today we are here, and we are all satisfied because things ended well,” he concluded.

The tensions between Israel and Iran escalated following reported Israeli strikes on Iranian military and nuclear facilities, resulting in casualties and injuries. According to the Angolan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, there are currently 46 Angolan citizens residing in Israel, including diplomatic personnel, their families, and other residents.

Read More