Belgium evacuates 24 people from Gaza
Belgium is evacuating 24 people from the Gaza Strip, the ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed. They are travelling on a flight that took off from Jordan on Thursday.
According to a press release from minister of Foreign Affairs Maxime Prévot, the group consists of 24 Belgian nationals and dependents. These are people with dual Palestinian and Belgian nationality, or with a status recognised by Belgium or with close family members who live in the country legally.
“This is a relief. After months of stagnation, these families can finally return to a safe situation,” Prévot said. “It is crucial to keep the dialogue open: this allows messages to be conveyed and sometimes also leads to concrete results.”
"Belgium hopes to see concrete progress in the negotiations on a second phase of the ceasefire in Gaza"
Diplomatic contacts with Israel, and in particular Foreign minister Gideon Sa'ar, were necessary to organise the people’s passage through the Kerem Shalom border post, a crossing point controlled by the Israeli army at the intersection of Palestinian, Egyptian and Israeli territories.
The group was able to leave the Gaza Strip through this crossing on Wednesday and continued by road to Jordan. They took off from there on Thursday, heading for Brussels.
According to Prévot, there are still about 500 Belgian nationals and dependents in Gaza.
“Together with the European Union, Belgium hopes to see concrete progress in the negotiations on a second phase of the ceasefire in Gaza,” he said. “This should not only lead to the release of hostages, but also to a definitive end to the hostilities and a political perspective for the Palestinian people.”
Trucks loaded with humanitarian aid cross into the Gaza Strip through the Kerem Shalom crossing, 17 February 2025 © PHOTO ABED RAHIM KHATIB / DPA
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