Pastor Egon Laufer, one of the Brazilians repatriated from Israel due to the war with the radical Islamic group Hamas, said this Wednesday (11) that his heart is full of joy for being able to return to Brazil safely.
Speaking to CNN moments after the arrival of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) plane at Galeão Air Base, in Rio de Janeiro, Laufer said that he also feels pain for the people who died in the conflict that began on Saturday (7).
“My heart is filled with joy and, at the same time, with a feeling of pain because so many people have died. It’s sad to know that there is a fight in such a small country, a fight so big that it draws everyone’s attention”, declared the pastor.
He entered Israel through Egypt on Friday (6), had traveled to the region for tourism and said he was in Jerusalem when the attacks began. According to Laufer, sirens sounded twice, forcing him to take refuge in the bunker of the hotel where he was staying.
“The tours were cancelled, we stayed inside the hotel”, said the man from Paraná. “The bombs were exploding, but there was a conviction that we were safe.”
First flight arrived in Brazil this Wednesday
The first FAB aircraft with Brazilians who were in Israel landed in Brasília this Wednesday, at around 4:08 am.
The landing took place at the Brasília Air Base (BABR), as part of the federal government’s “Operation Returning in Peace”.
211 Brazilians were brought, rescued from the war in Israel, which began in the early hours of last Saturday (7), after an attack by the extremist group Hamas.
Defense Minister José Múcio stated that the federal government, guided by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), will repatriate all Brazilians who want to leave the war zone between Israel and Hamas.
“We are going to bring all the Brazilians who are in the region. Itamaraty is already making contact with neighboring countries to see if we can displace other Brazilians who are in the surrounding area”, declared the minister.
According to Itamaraty, Egypt’s foreign minister promised efforts to open the Rafah crossing, the Gaza region’s only border with another country besides Israel.
It is estimated that around 60 Brazilians are in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian territory. At least 26 have already requested repatriation.
The exit by Egypt of Brazilians in Gaza is considered the best solution by Brazilian diplomacy, given the difficulty of accessing the location. The intention is for these Brazilians to be picked up on a bus and taken to a FAB flight, in Egypt, to return to Brazil.
See also: Plane with repatriates from Israel arrives in Rio de Janeiro
See images of the conflict between Israel and Hamas
Source: CNN Brasil
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