President called Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian National Authority this Saturday
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) spoke this Saturday (14.Oct.2023) with the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, and asked for help with logistics and security for the departure of Brazilians from the Gaza Strip. Contact was made by telephone at 2pm (Brasília time).
A group of 28 people left northern Gaza on Saturday morning and arrived in Rafah, a city on the border with Egypt. The Brazilian Embassy in Palestine rented a house to house them while the group is not allowed to enter Egypt. The Palestinian Authority is the political movement that officially represents the Palestinians and opposes Hamas.
The Brazilian government sent a presidential plane, with capacity for 40 people, to rescue them. The aircraft is in Rome, Italy, where it is awaiting authorization to proceed to Egyptian territory. There was an expectation that the group would be able to cross the border this Saturday, which did not happen.
According to the Presidency of the Republic, Lula told Abbas he was concerned about the situation of civilians in the region and the ban on the entry of humanitarian aid. Brazil sent this Saturday 2 kits with medicines and hospital supplies to serve 3,000 people for up to 30 days. The items, however, will only be able to reach Gaza through the border with Egypt.
Lula highlighted Brazilian recognition of the Palestinian state and condemned the attacks by the extremist group Hamas on Israel last week. The PT member once again called for the creation of a humanitarian corridor in Gaza, to allow foreign civilians to leave and aid to enter the region, and the immediate release of hostages.
Source: https://www.poder360.com.br/governo/lula-pede-ajuda-a-lider-palestino-para-retirar-brasileiros-de-gaza/
