1 of 5 Lula and returnees — Photo: Reproduction Lula and returnees — Photo: Reproduction
The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) aircraft landed in Brasília on Monday evening (13), rescuing the group of 32 people in the Gaza Strip most of them Brazilians. They have been waiting for permission to leave the region since the conflict between Israel and Hamas began more than a month ago.
The original forecast was that the plane would arrive in the capital at 11:30 p.m., but it arrived six minutes earlier, at 11:24 p.m. The group was expected by the authorities at the Brasília air base, including President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, as well as Minister of Social Communications Paulo Pimenta.
In addition to 22 Brazilian citizens (born or naturalized), there are 10 Palestinians three firstdegree relatives of Brazilians and seven National Migration Register (RNM) holders who must obtain refugee status. They were located in the south of the Gaza Strip, in the cities of Khan Younis and Rafah.
2 out of 5 authorities are waiting for the disembarkation of returnees at the Brasília air base Photo: Pedro Henrique Gomes/g1 Authorities are waiting for the disembarkation of returnees at the Brasília air base Photo: Pedro Henrique Gomes/g1
Social Communications Minister Paulo Pimenta reported that among the passengers were at least two children suffering from malnutrition. Even before the plane arrived in the capital, ambulances were already on the tarmac waiting for her to arrive to take her to the hospital. The medical team later reported that three children and a pregnant woman received medical attention.
Plane with rescued people from the Gaza Strip lands in Recife
The withdrawal from Gaza began this Sunday morning (12) as the group approached Palestinian migration control in the area. According to Itamaraty, the Brazilians then left the town and made their way to the Egyptian train station (2 km bus route).
There they were greeted by the team from the Brazilian Embassy in Cairo and went through immigration procedures to enter this country.
The FAB aircraft was waiting at an air base near Cairo for the Brazilians to arrive. After staying in a hotel in Cairo, the Brazilians left for Brazil on Monday morning.
The plane made two technical stops, one on La Palma in Spain and another on Brazilian soil in Recife, the capital of Pernambuco.
3 of 5 FAB plane with 32 people rescued from the Gaza Strip landed at Recife Airport Photo: Reproduction/TV Globo FAB plane with 32 people rescued from the Gaza Strip landed at Recife Airport Photo: Reproduction/TV Globo
According to the National Minister of Justice Augusto Botelho, they should be divided as follows:
- 4 have family in Brasília and will stay in DF
- 12 will remain with their families in the state of São Paulo
- 12, who no longer have family members in Brazil, are being housed in a shelter in the interior of São Paulo
- 2 go to Florianópolis (SC)
- 1 goes to Cuiabá (MT)
- 1 goes to Novo Hamburgo (RS)
According to the secretary, the accommodation in the interior of São Paulo “was provided by the federal government through partnerships and agreements of the Ministry of Social Development.”
Since the beginning of the war between Israel and the terrorist group Hamas, the Brazilian government has contacted Brazilians who were in the Gaza Strip and who had expressed a desire to leave the Strip to escape the conflict.
The bombings in Gaza began on October 8th. Since then, Brazilian diplomacy began the operation to bring the group back. First, Itamaraty organized the expulsion of Brazilians from the north to the south of the Gaza Strip, where they could reach the border with Egypt.
The government then negotiated with Israel, Egypt and Qatar to add the names of Brazilians to the list of those allowed to cross the Egyptian border. The Brazilians left Gaza on Sunday (12).
The government had previously brought Brazilians who were already in Israel back into the country. For the national justice minister, the repatriation of Brazilians from Gaza was the most difficult that the country has carried out so far in the war.
“It was the most difficult and painful negotiation. I think when it comes to a large number of children, the emotional involvement is very high,” Botelho said.
4 of 5 Hasan Rabee, one of the Brazilians repatriated to the Gaza Strip, shows the rest of the group on November 13, 2023, in the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) aircraft used by the government for repatriation to Brazil. Photo: Hasan Rabee/Personal Archive Hasan Rabee, one of the Brazilians repatriated to the Gaza Strip, shows the rest of the group on November 13, 2023 in the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) plane used by the government for repatriation to Brazil. — Photo: Hasan Rabee/ Personal Archive
Vaccination and medical and psychological care
According to Botelho, the Brazilians arriving from Gaza are receiving medical and psychological care at the Brasília air base. The migration documents will also be finalized at this time.
“Today at the air base [segunda] At night we offer two services. Medical care, some medical and psychological needs. Health Ministry technicians will be at the air base today. And they will also do all the migration and baggage processing,” he explained.
A vaccination must be carried out on Tuesday (14th) to immunize the children in the group.
“Children are vaccinated. There are many children in the group who have not yet been vaccinated. They will all be vaccinated tomorrow [terça]. “So these two days are two days of rest and also of conversation, of listening so that the federal government understands the needs of each individual,” the secretary added.
5 of 5 Brazilian Air Force (FAB) accommodations in Brasília Photo: FAB/Disclosure Brazilian Air Force (FAB) accommodations in Brasília Photo: FAB/Disclosure
Social Development Minister Wellington Dias explained that returnees can receive social benefits if they meet the requirements of each program.
“Anyone who has no family members will be accommodated in a reception unit. There they have the right to shelter, they have the right to food and also access to one of the programs, either Bolsa Família or the Continuous Payment Benefit. And from.” “There is a whole set of instructions for other programs,” explained the minister.