Brazilians to leave Gaza for Rafah, on border with Egypt
The Planalto presidential palace reported the successful transfer on Saturday (Oct. 14), of 16 Brazilians, including adults and children, from a school in Gaza City, to the city of Rafah, situated in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, near the Egyptian border.
Originally, the group was meant to await Egyptian government authorization in Khan Yunis before entering Egyptian territory and catching a flight back to Brazil. However, since the group was already in Khan Yunis, authorities decided to move them to Rafah.
The Planalto palace statement highlighted that the "small house" rented by the government in Rafah not only ensures a more peaceful night for the 16 Brazilians but is also within walking distance of the Egyptian border crossing.
Although part of Khan Yunis was hit by Israeli attacks on Saturday, the other 12 Brazilians who were already in the city, waiting for permission to cross the border into Egypt, will remain there.
"They reside in Khan Yunis, so there was no need for them to vacate their homes and relocate to the house that the Brazilian government rented [in Rafah] for those who were at the school in Gaza City," explained Brazil's ambassador to Palestine, Alessandro Candeas, noting that the two groups are approximately 13 kilometers apart.
"But as soon as the border window opens, allowing immigration, our two groups will pass together," he said.
The combined group includes 14 children, eight women, and six men, awaiting the opportunity to board a plane back to Brazil. A Brazilian state aircraft, a VC-2 with a capacity for up to 40 passengers plus crew, is currently parked in Rome, Italy, awaiting the green light to continue its journey to Egypt. The Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed ongoing negotiations with Egyptian authorities “to facilitate the entry of Brazilians and their families into Egypt.”
As of Saturday (14), the Brazilian government has successfully repatriated 701 Brazilians and their families from the conflict zone, utilizing four flights operated by the Brazilian Air Force.
The fifth plane used in “Returning in Peace” operation departed from Tel Aviv at 11:55 a.m. (Brasília time) on Saturday, bringing 215 more people, including nine babies.
The Brazilian Air Force anticipates the aircraft's arrival at Galeão Airport in Rio de Janeiro in the early hours of Sunday morning (15). This will bring the total number of repatriated Brazilians to 916.
Conflict Zone
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs anticipates the need for at least 15 flights to repatriate all the Brazilians who have sought assistance to leave the conflict region. Over 2,700 Brazilian citizens have updated their personal details using the form provided by the Brazilian embassy in Tel Aviv on the internet. However, not all have expressed an immediate intention to leave the region, the director of the ministry’s Consular Department, Aloysio Mares Dias Gomide Filho, explained last Wednesday (11).
Additionally, some individuals have submitted multiple registrations, making it difficult to determine the exact number of Brazilians in the area. Gomide Filho emphasized that some repatriated citizens are among those who have completed the form.
