Brazilian-Palestinian mother and three children allowed to leave Gaza

A baby born on Christmas Eve 2023, a two-year-old, a four-year-old and their mother, all Brazilian-Palestinians, have been allowed to cross the border between Gaza and Egypt at Rafah. The four are part of another stage of Operation Returning in Peace, which the Federal Government has been running since October to repatriate Brazilians from the conflict zone in the Middle East.

They were already on previous lists, but the mother could not travel because she was in an advanced stage of pregnancy. Now, the newborn has been added"

Alessandro Candeas, Brazil's ambassador in Palestine

The authorities estimate that the four will cross the border on Thursday, February 8, travel to Cairo in a vehicle rented by the Brazilian embassy in Egypt (a journey of around six hours) and return to Brazil in a commercial aircraft with expenses covered by the Brazilian government.

"They were already on previous lists, but the mother could not travel because she was in an advanced stage of pregnancy. Now, the newborn has been added," commented Brazil's ambassador in Palestine, Alessandro Candeas.

The four were lodged in Rafah in a house rented by the Brazilian representation in Ramallah, with resources for food, water and medications, receiving all the assistance while they were waiting for the moment to cross the border.

With the four new returnees, Operation Returning in Peace will have rescued 1,559 people, including Brazilians and their relatives who were in Israel, Gaza and the region of the West Bank. The stopovers also brought back 53 domestic animals.

GAZA - This is the fourth specific repatriation operation with Brazilians who were on the Palestinian side of the conflict, a process that requires more complex articulation. This is because the only border for civilians to leave the war zone in Gaza is in the south of the enclave, in Rafah, on the border with Egypt. Each list needs to be approved by the Israeli, Egyptian and Palestinian authorities, in a job performed by teams from the Brazilian embassies in Tel Aviv and Cairo and by the representation in Ramallah. The sum of the four operations brings the total to 149 Brazilians and their close relatives rescued, 117 from Gaza (including the four now) and 32 from the West Bank.

IMMEDIATE RESPONSE – The world was still assimilating the shock of the attacks against Israel on Saturday, October 7, when the Brazilian Government began mobilizing to structure the removal of Brazilians from the conflict zone.

On the same day as the attacks, a crisis cabinet was set up and, once activated, the Brazilian embassies in Tel Aviv (Israel), Cairo (Egypt) and the Representative Office in Ramallah (Palestine) began the diplomatic operation to identify who the Brazilians were and where they were in the conflict region.

At the same time, the FAB was activated to ensure that aircraft could rescue nationals as quickly as possible.
Using an online form, around 2,700 people expressed an interest in returning to Brazil from Israel. Those who could not get seats on private airline flights were then assisted by Operation Returning in Peace, following priority requirements for Brazilians without tickets, non-residents, pregnant women, seniors, women and children. Specialists from the Ministry of Agriculture were involved to ensure the repatriation of domestic animals. The operation also worked to assist Brazilians in the West Bank and Gaza.