After Israel gave civilians 24 hours to leave northern Gaza, Itamaraty made a chartered bus available to take Brazilians to the southern region.
The group that is at a Catholic school in the region, however, decided not to make the journey at this time.
The reports are of fear of displacement and also fear of not finding an available reception space on the south side, which is without water and electricity.
The number of Brazilians sheltered at this Catholic school in northern Gaza increased to 19 this Friday (13). There are 11 children, five women and three men. Only 10, however, are among those who wish to be repatriated to Brazil. The other nine are only seeking refuge and have already stated that they prefer to remain in Gaza.
Among those who want to return to Brazil is Shahed al-Banna. She arrived at the shelter this Friday and summarizes why the group is afraid, whatever decision is made.
“The Israelis ordered all the people of the Gaza Strip to leave their homes and go south. We thought school was a safe place for us, but now it is not a safe place. They will come in and destroy everything: the buildings, the trees, children, people, everything will be killed”, said the 18-year-old girl.
The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) sent an extra flight this Thursday (13) to bring Brazilians who are in Gaza. The VC-2 — aircraft belonging to the Presidency of the Republic — is already in Rome and awaiting guidance. The best option raised so far is to remove the group through the Rafah crossing, a region in southern Gaza that borders Egypt.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) personally entered the negotiations for the rescue of Brazilians in the most critical zone of the conflict. He called the president of Israel, Isaac Herzog. Lula called for the opening of a humanitarian corridor between the Gaza Strip and Egypt.
Previously, the head of the Special Advisory to the President of the Republic, Celso Amorim, had already made contact with Faiza Aboul Naga, security affairs advisor to the President of Egypt, Abdul Fatah Khalil Al-Sisi.
The Itamaraty Palace also does not rule out the possibility of making contact with Hamas to guarantee the safe evacuation of Brazilians.
VIDEO: Even with warning from Israel; Hamas insists that people stay in Gaza
Source: CNN Brasil
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