Brazil’s Federal Government rescues 32 people from the West Bank

A new and complex chapter of Brazil’s Returning in Peace Operation – for repatriating Brazilians who are in the conflict zone in the Middle East – took place this Wednesday morning (November 1) in the West Bank. Brazil’s Representative Office in Ramallah organized a rescue operation for 32 people from 12 families who wanted repatriation: 12 men, 9 women and 11 children. There were six elderly people in the group. There were 30 Brazilians, a Jordanian and a Palestinian, both married to Brazilians.

All vehicles were identified with the Brazilian flag. For security purposes, license plates, routes and passenger lists were shared with authorities in Palestine and Israel"

Alessandro Candeas, ambassador of Brazil’s Representative Office in Ramallah, West Bank

According to ambassador Alessandro Candeas, three vehicles, including buses and vans chartered by Brazil’s Representative Office, took passengers from 11 cities in the West Bank to Jericho.

“All vehicles were identified with the Brazilian flag. For security purposes, license plates, routes and passenger lists were shared with authorities in Palestine and Israel,” explained Candeas. The measure is essential to avoid bombings along the way.

In Jericho, everyone underwent migration procedures. From there, they headed to the border crossing with Jordan, and then boarded another bus chartered by the Brazilian Government to direct the caravan to Jordan’s capital Amman. The journey took just over an hour.

At Marka International Airport, the Brazilians will board a Presidency aircraft that is already waiting there to fly to the Brasília Air Base, in Brazil. The final destination of the repatriated people will be Foz do Iguaçu (eight), São Paulo (five), Florianópolis (four), Recife (three), Rio de Janeiro (three), Fortaleza (three), Curitiba (two), Goiânia (two), Brasília (two), and Porto Alegre (one).

1,445 PASSENGERS - When this flight is completed, the Brazilian Federal Government's Returning in Peace Operation will have ensured the safe return of 1,445 passengers on eight flights from Israel and one from Jordan, all commanded by the Brazilian Air Force (Força Aérea Brasileira/FAB). In total, there are 1,440 Brazilians, three Bolivian women, a Jordanian, a Palestinian, in addition to 53 pets.

GAZA - In Gaza, a region that does not border with the West Bank, another group of 34 Brazilians is still awaiting authorization to cross the border with Egypt, the only viable way to take another FAB flight, this time from Cairo towards Brazil. This Wednesday, the border was opened for the first time since the beginning of the conflict so that injured Palestinians and a group of around 450 foreigners may flee the region. This first list includes citizens from Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Finland, Indonesia, Jordan, Japan, and the Czech Republic, as well as professionals from the Red Cross and NGOs. “New lists will be published soon and our Brazilians must be on them,” said Ambassador Candeas.

Brazilian diplomacy and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva remain directly involved in negotiations to guarantee humanitarian aid in the region, to negotiate a ceasefire and to allow the opening of the border for the return of the Brazilians. Brazil presided over the UN Security Council in October and acted repeatedly to try to approve a consensual resolution that would help lead to dialogue and peace in the region.

Since the beginning of the conflict, on October 7, President Lula has talked over the phone with leaders from the United Arab Emirates, Israel, Palestine, Egypt, France, Russia, Turkey, Iran, Qatar and the European Council. Brazil’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mauro Vieira has also been involved in conversations with the foreign ministers of Israel and Egypt.

Buses and vans chartered by Brazil’s Representative Office in Ramallah picked up the Brazilians at various places in the West Bank and took them to Jericho, where they underwent first immigration procedures before crossing the border. Photos: Brazil’s Representative Office in Ramallah

HUMANITARIAN AID – In addition to the repatriation flights, two aircraft from the Brazilian Presidency have already taken food, medical supplies and water purifiers to the region. On Monday (October 30), 1.5 tons of food were sent to Gaza. The shipment was made up of rice, sugar, corn products and milk and has already landed in Egypt, and instructions are awaited on how it may be taken to the border.

On October 18, the VC-2 landed at Al-Arish International Airport in Egypt with water filtration equipment and health kits. The cargo contained 40 water purifiers capable of treating more than 220 thousand liters of water a day. Manufactured by Brazil with Brazilian technology, the equipment is capable of removing 100% of viruses and bacteria from water. Access to drinking water is one of the biggest hardships faced by the population of Gaza today.

Two health kits were also sent, each serving up to 3,000 people over the course of a month. They contain medicine and supplies such as anti-inflammatory drugs, painkillers, antibiotics, gloves and syringes. Altogether, each kit contains 48 items, adding up to 267 kilos.