The first evacuation operation for Spaniards trapped in Gaza is underway. "Today the first Hispano-Palestinians have finally begun to pass, they are already at the first Palestinian checkpoint. At this moment they are doing the procedures to cross the Egyptian checkpoint," reported today the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, upon his arrival at the council of ministers of the sector that takes place today in Brussels and in which he will request an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the strip to alleviate the humanitarian situation. The group is made up of about 40 people, of which approximately half are minors, Spanish diplomatic sources have explained.
Previously, Spanish citizens who worked in international organizations who wanted to leave Gaza were already able to do so, the minister recalled. But "from minute one the Foreign Ministry had planned this evacuation [of Spanish-Palestinian citizens] and I have been in contact with my Israeli and Egyptian colleagues throughout all these weeks so that this departure could take place," Albares stressed. Once permission was obtained from Cairo, the Israeli authorities yesterday confirmed to the Spanish Government the authorization to evacuate a first contingent through the Rafah crossing (Egypt), which today will open to the passage of people.
Although the controls take time, the Government is confident that the operation will be completed today. "We must be cautious until the end" but "for now everything is going well, let's hope it ends well," said Albares. "The Spanish embassy in Cairo is fully mobilized and we have already spoken with the Ministry of Defense to send its planes to come at the right time."
It is estimated that the Spanish colony in the Gaza Strip is currently made up of between 140 and 170 people. The objective is to evacuate them over several days in small groups like the one that is currently about to enter Egypt through the Rafah crossing, as explained by the coordinator of the Spanish community in the enclave, Salah Awad El Sousi. also included in today's departure list, reports the Efe agency.
In total, some 524 foreigners or people with dual Palestinian nationality are expected to be evacuated this Monday through the crossing that connects Gaza with the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula. Since the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7, at least 11,000 people have been killed in Gaza by Israeli bombings.
