President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) promised this Thursday to commit to removing Palestinian families of Brazilians from the Gaza Strip who are awaiting rescue from Brazil.
The promise was made this Thursday (26) during a video conference with Hasan Rabee’s family, who is in Gaza. Participating in the conversation with Lula were: Rabee, his wife Dyana Abo Salem and their daughters aged 5 and 3, who are in Khan Yunis.
Rabee reported day-to-day life in southern Gaza, with bombers and shortages of food, water and energy. In the conversation, he asked the president to bring his mother to Brazil. Furthermore, two sisters also live there.
“Today I received a call from President Lula and he stated that he is doing everything possible to remove Brazilians from the Gaza Strip. I also talked about my mother. He opened his hands and said that he is going to take our family members who are not Brazilians, but who are our family members, out of the Gaza Strip,” said Rabeen in a video sent to CNN .
The information that Lula promised help to remove non-Brazilian citizen family members from Gaza was confirmed by sources at the Palácio do Planalto. The operation, however, depends on diplomatic negotiation.
According to diplomatic sources, there is the possibility of bringing members of the closest family members, such as parents, children and even siblings, to Brazil. The cases, however, are handled on a case-by-case basis at the request of Brazilians.
Currently, around 30 Brazilians are in the cities of Khan Yunis and Rafah awaiting the opening of the border with Egypt to return to Brazil. Some are in family homes and others are in properties rented by the Brazilian Representation in Palestine.
A plane from the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) is already waiting in Cairo for the Rafah crossing to be cleared.
“Unfortunately, today, 20 days, same bombing, same attack, no energy, no water. Without mineral water, we are drinking tap water that is not treated,” said Rabee.
As the days go by, the humanitarian crisis has worsened, with food and water shortages. The Brazilian government has been sending financial aid via bank transfer, but given the worsening of the conflict, there is already a lack of food in the markets and prices have tripled, according to reports made to CNN .
In the video, Rabee thanks President Lula and the federal government for their help, but cites the difficulty in purchasing food.
“We received resources, money to try to buy food, food, and water, but unfortunately it is very difficult to find it. The most terrifying thing is that we ran out of gas, we are trying to find gas for the kitchen, but unfortunately it would be very difficult. We are fighting right now to be rescued and get to our home in São Paulo,” she said.
According to Palácio do Planalto, Lula said that all possible efforts are being made to ensure that they return and remain in Brazil safely. The president also guaranteed that the FAB plane will remain in Cairo awaiting rescue for as long as necessary until the border opens.
Lula also told the Brazilian family that a large reception operation is being set up to welcome them when they arrive in Brazil. Coordination is the Ministry of Justice and Public Security.
Ambassador Alessandro Candeas, Brazil’s representative to the Palestinian Authority, also participated in the videoconference.
Source: CNN Brasil
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