President Lula talks to Brazilian family in Gaza

Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva spoke this Thursday morning (26) — through a video conference call — with a Brazilian family in Gaza who is awaiting the opening of the Egyptian border for repatriation.

They told the president about their daily lives of water, energy, food and medicine shortages — as well as bombings and deaths, a great part of it children. They said that they hoped to be repatriated as soon as possible.

President Lula spoke of the of the Brazilian government’s repatriation operations and highlighted that all efforts will be made to ensure that they return and remain in Brazil safely. He assured them that he will keep the presidential aircraft ready in Cairo, to be activated as soon as the border is opened, and that an extensive reception operation is set up in Brazil under the coordination of the Ministry of Justice and Public Security.

Lula also highlighted that he has shown special concern about the situation of Brazilian people in Gaza in the conversations he has had with leaders in the region — such as the presidents of the United Arab Emirates, Israel, Palestine, Egypt, France, Russia, Türkiye, Iran, Qatar and the European Council.

The Brazilian ambassador to the Palestinian National Authority, Alessandro Candeas, also on the call, highlighted that several Brazilian families are in houses rented by Brazil’s Representative Office, close to the border with Egypt, receiving emergency assistance.

The conversation was attended by the head of the Brazilian Presidency’s Communications Secretariat, Minister Paulo Pimenta, by the leader of the government at the Senate, Jaques Wagner, and by the Office of the Special Advisor to the President.