Foreigners are authorized for the first time to leave Gaza; Brazilians are still awaiting authorizat

The Rafah crossing was opened with restrictions for the evacuation of foreigners and dual nationals from Gaza to Egypt. However, the list released by local authorities in Gaza did not cover Brazilian citizens. The Brazilian ambassador to Palestine stated that he is committed to ensuring the inclusion of Brazilian names in the next lists.

Civilians pass through the gate to enter the Rafah crossing towards Egypt. Photo Reproduction: Mohammed Abed/AFP/Getty Images

The Rafah crossing, in the Gaza Strip, Gaza's only land border that does not connect to Israel, was opened this Wednesday (1st) after having remained closed throughout the conflict between Israeli forces and the terrorist group Hamas. The opening was intended to allow a limited number of foreign citizens, dual nationals, and some of the most seriously injured people to leave Gaza for Egypt.

This is the first time since the start of the war that the border has been opened to evacuate people. Authorization to leave the territory was granted by the Egyptian authorities following an agreement brokered by Qatar, which involved negotiations with Israel and Hamas. According to information from the Brazilian ambassador to Palestine, Alessandro Candeas, no Brazilian citizen was on the first evacuation list, which included almost 500 names.

This data was released by local authorities in Gaza. Images show families and vehicles waiting in line to leave Gaza, while reports emerged that Egypt would allow 81 seriously injured people to enter. It was also possible to see a line of ambulances waiting to transport the sick and injured. Egypt established a field hospital to meet the medical needs of those who crossed the border into the African country.

In this first group, citizens of Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Finland, Indonesia, Jordan, Japan and the Czech Republic are authorized to leave the Gaza Strip. Additionally, the list also includes members of the Red Cross and some non-governmental organizations, as reported by Candeas.

Brazilians in Gaza

Outside of this first list of nationalities authorized to leave Gaza, Brazilians who remain in the territory expressed concern and indignation towards the government. The Brazilian ambassador to Palestine stated that he was aware of the anguish of the families and stated that he was committed to ensuring their release, emphasizing that more lists are planned.

The Brazilian Embassy stated that it is monitoring the condition of 34 individuals who sought help to leave the Gaza Strip. This group is made up of 24 Brazilian citizens and 10 Palestinians who are currently in the process of immigrating to Brazil or will begin this process soon. At the moment, 16 Brazilians are waiting for the opening of the border in Rafah, while another 16 are located in Khan Yunis, the largest city in the south of the Gaza Strip.

The Brazilian government also informed that it is coordinating with the authorities of Egypt and Israel the departure of this group, using a Brazilian Air Force aircraft, made especially available to repatriate these people back to Brazil and which is already on Egyptian soil.

Rafah Border

Rafah is a Palestinian city located at the southern tip of the Gaza Strip, adjacent to Sinai, Egypt. This city, located approximately 30 kilometers south of Gaza City, is primarily home to a population of Palestinian refugees, the majority of whom reside in two large camps known as Rafa and Tel Sultan. It is important to highlight that the Rafah crossing is the only land border in the Gaza Strip that does not connect with Israel. Traditionally, its opening to civilians is a rare event, being used mainly by governments and organizations to provide humanitarian aid and supplies to the Palestinian territory.

Since the start of the conflict, the Cairo government has prevented all attempts to cross this area. When Israel issued orders for civilians to evacuate northern Gaza, hundreds of Palestinians and foreigners flocked to the small border town. Although it has become a refuge for civilians, the city has also been the target of airstrikes throughout the more than three weeks of fighting.

Returnees from the West Bank

An additional group of Brazilians, who were in the Palestinian region of the West Bank, east of Israel, were rescued this Wednesday morning by the Brazilian Representation in Ramallah. This group, made up of 33 individuals belonging to 12 families who had requested repatriation, crossed the border into Jordan. They have already boarded and are on a flight to Brazil on a Presidency of the Republic aircraft, as announced by the federal government.