Businessman Mohammed Adwan, his wife Israa Hussein, both 35 years old, and their daughters Tamara, 9, and Ella, 6, are among around 40 people who are part of a second list of Brazilians and family members who are in the Gaza awaiting repatriation.
Naturalized Brazilians since October 2022, Adwan and his family watched with emotion the arrival of the 32 repatriates at the Brasília Air Base. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT)’s promise that he will make every effort to rescue everyone who wants to leave the conflict area gave the businessman hope.
“When we heard the president’s speech welcoming the first list, we felt hopeful and calm, we trusted that our exit from Gaza is near,” said Adwan.
Video: Plane with repatriates from the Gaza Strip arrives in Brazil
The businessman had lived with his family in Florianópolis (SC) since February 2021. In February of this year, he had to return to Gaza when his mother died. Four months later his brother also died and he remained in the region.
Adwan says that he only became aware of a list for repatriation on October 13, when he signed up on the link provided by the Brazilian Representation in Palestine. On the same day, he left his home in Gaza to take shelter at a sister’s residence in Rafah, in the south of the territory.
“The first list was ready and sent to the competent authorities. I didn’t know there was a link to register names and when I found out I filled out the link and contacted the embassy. The war started on October 7th and I filled out the application on October 13th,” he told CNN .
At the time, the businessman reports, the conflict was not yet that serious. “The embassy contacted me and asked if we needed any support. Thank God, things are fine for me and nothing is missing,” says Adwan.
Adwan says he has tried to reassure his daughters that there is nothing serious happening. However, the bombings scare children and it is already difficult to hide them.
“We do our best to reassure them that there is nothing serious and that they are fine. We don’t tell them the news and distract them with indoor activities with colored pencils and drawings. But the sounds of bombing are everywhere, and there is fear and crying. We reassured them and held back,” she reported.
Source: CNN Brasil
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