15/10/2023 – 17:05
Brazil’s ambassador to the West Bank, Alessandro Candeas, said this Sunday (15) that he hopes that Brazilians awaiting repatriation in the Gaza Strip will be able to cross the border into Egypt, at a crossing near the city of Rafah, on Monday (16) . According to him, the embassy received information from Brazilians in Gaza that “rumors are circulating” that the border will be opened on Monday, and also confirmed this information through another channel.
One group of 28 people, 22 Brazilians and six Palestinians residing in Brazil, he remains sheltered in the cities of Rafah and Khan Yunis, in the south of Gaza, awaiting authorization to cross the border.
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The ambassador stated that the Brazilians’ departure depends on the opening of the passage to Egypt and also on the authorization of the immigration authorities, who need to stamp the Brazilians’ passports. “At the political level, everything has already been done. It is only necessary that, once the border is opened, the official there, who will receive the Brazilians, has the list and authorizes entry. We hope this happens tomorrow, that is our expectation”, said Candeas.
According to the Brazilian government, as soon as the group can cross to Egypt, they will be brought to Brazil on the Presidency of the Republic’s VC-2 plane, which has the capacity to transport up to 40 passengers. Another five repatriation flights have already been made to bring Brazilians and family members from Israel.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira have been negotiating the opening of the border since last week in order to rescue the group. Between Friday and Saturday, the president addressed the issue in phone calls with the President of Israel, Isaac Herzog, the President of Egypt, Abdul Fatah al-Sisi, and the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas.
Border reopening
United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Sunday that the Egyptian-controlled border crossing in the Gaza Strip will be reopened and that the United States is working with the Egyptians, Israelis and the United Nations (UN) to provide assistance humanitarian aid can reach the region.
Hundreds of tons of aid have been sent from several countries and have been waiting for days in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula. There is still a lack of agreement for their safe delivery to Gaza, in addition to the evacuation of foreigners across the border in Rafah.
Egypt said it had stepped up its diplomatic efforts to resolve the impasse. “We put it to work, Egypt put in place a lot of support materials for the people in Gaza, and Rafah will be reopened,” Blinken told reporters in Cairo, after what he said was a “very good conversation” with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
“We are establishing with the UN, Egypt, Israel and others the mechanism by which we will receive aid and how it will reach the people who need it”, he concluded.
*With information from Reuters
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