A group of French immigrants landed in Ben Gurion Airport, in Palestinian territories occupied since 1948 (present-day Israel) on Monday.

The 140 new arrivals came to Israel on a flight organized by the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, which among other activities assists those seeking to immigrate to the self-proclaimed Jewish state.

The new immigrants were greeted at the airport by Immigration Minister Pnina Tamano-Shata and fellowship president Yael Eckstein.

“In 2020, we will welcome over ten thousand [new immigrants] from all over the world. It is a great privilege for me… to manage aliyah during this challenging time,” Tamano-Shata said.

She added: “The Jews of Europe and the rest of the world are currently facing complex challenges, and every Jew should know that the gates of this country are still open, even during an emergency or crisis.”

Last month, two groups involved with arranging immigration to Israel said there could be a jump in the number of new immigrants to the country in the coming years due to the coronavirus pandemic.