The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) was called by the Ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs this Sunday (08) to rescue Brazilians who are in Israel. An Airbus KC-30 aircraft takes off today for the repatriation mission. Another five large aircraft are also available.
Since Friday (07) Israel faces Hamas after a major surprise attack. The jihadist organization, which has links with Iran and fights for an end to Israeli action in Palestine, fired more than 3000 rockets at Israel and invaded the country by land and sea, attacking civilians and soldiers and capturing military equipment, in an unprecedented action. .
After an emergency meeting with the MD and MRE, the Air Force commander, Air Lieutenant Brigadier Marcelo Damasceno, announced the repatriation mission, also stating that the military had been ready since yesterday. Six aircraft were put on standby to rescue Brazilians still in the country: two Airbus KC-30, two Embraer VC-2 (ERJ-190) and two Embraer KC-390 Millennium.
According to information from the FAB, one of the KC-30s takes off later this afternoon from Christmas (RN) to Rome (Italy), where it will remain until the embassies complete the repatriation list. From there, you will head to Tel Aviv.
“We will adapt the size of the mission according to the needs allocated by our ministries. We have a brigadier at the embassy (of Israel) helping with this consolidation of all Brazilians, from all the embassies in the region, Egypt, Jordan and Israel, so that we can bring all the Brazilians who are in the region, of course those who wish”, said Brigadier Damasceno, highlighting that many have already left the country on commercial flights.
The Brazilian Air Force, in coordination with the Ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs, was called to repatriate Brazilians who are in Israel.
Today (08/10), a KC-30 aircraft will take off in the late afternoon from Natal/RN heading to Rome (Italy).
On the mission, they will be… pic.twitter.com/YCZfGpfdvi— Brazilian Air Force 🇧🇷 (@fab_official) October 8, 2023
Itamaraty estimates that 14 thousand Brazilians are living in Israel and another 6 thousand in Palestine. Of these, 60 are being monitored by the government because they are in the conflict zone. According to Agency Brazil, the first list of returnees should be ready on Monday (09). It is possible that FAB jets will use airports other than Tel Aviv.
“Tel-Aviv is the airport that will repatriate Brazilians linked to the Israeli community. We are analyzing other countries and which airports we will redeem for the portion linked to the Middle East as a whole”, highlighted Damasceno.
In the last balance released by Israel, 600 deaths and 1800 injuries were recorded. On the other side, Palestine says that 313 died and more than 2 were injured.
