2023-10-11 11:54:33
MRE
Brazilians are received by the Minister of Defense, José Múcio
The first Brazilian Air Force (FAB) plane used to repatriate Brazilians who were in Israel landed in Brazil at 5:08 am this Thursday (11) at the air base in Brasília (DF).
The aircraft carried 211 passengers. According to the Brazilian Embassy in Tel Aviv, around 1,700 people asked for government help to return to Brazil on FAB flights. Most were in Israel for tourism.
The substitute Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Maria Laura da Rocha, and the Minister of Defense, José Múcio Monteiro Filho, received the flight passengers this morning.
“The president [Luiz Inácio] Lula[da Silva (PT)] has advised that no Brazilians remain, that everyone who wants to return, that we can present conditions. Brazil is the first country to carry out this operation”, said Múcio.
To travel within Israel, Brazil helped passengers with five buses.
By Sunday, five more FAB flights should arrive in Brazil transporting repatriates. Itamaraty informed that priority will be those who live in Brazil and do not have a return ticket purchased.
Some of the Brazilians will board a new flight with FAB bound for Rio de Janeiro. Another part will be taken by the company Azul to the destination cities. All costs will be borne by Azul, according to the government.
The second KC-30 aircraft, which took off from Brasília (DF) this Monday (09) at 4:20 pm (local time), to repatriate Brazilians in Israel, also transported five health professionals (two doctors, two nurses and a psychologist) from FAB to assist in the rescue.
The Commander of this second KC-30, Major Aviator Rafael de Oliveira Bertholdo, from the Second Squadron of the Second Transport Group (2nd/2nd GT) – Corsair Squadron, commented on the mission. “It’s a big responsibility for our crew. Furthermore, this humanitarian aid also proves the prompt response characteristic of our Air Force, as it was possible to prepare the aircraft and coordinate the mission in a short space of time. The real need for our country to have aircraft of this size is clear. One of the main features of the KC-30 is the ability to transport a large number of people, safely, over long distances. Thus, this is a real mission to use air power in time of war”, he highlighted.
The Air Force Commander, Air Lieutenant-Brigadier Marcelo Kanitz Damasceno, spoke about the importance of the mission. “When we talk about reintegrating people, we are also talking about an object linked to sovereignty. National reintegration is a characteristic mission of the Air Force and we feel very proud to cooperate in this difficult time”, said the General Officer.
The KC-30, measuring 59 meters long, is the largest aircraft ever operated by the Brazilian Air Force, capable of carrying up to 238 passengers, 45 tons of cargo and flying a distance of 14,500 kilometers.
Conflict
The conflict enters its fifth day this Wednesday (11) amid concern about new battle fronts. On Saturday (7), the Palestinian armed group Hamas sent five thousand rockets into Israeli territory.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared war on the country and has been launching daily offensives on the Gaza Strip. To date, there have been more than 2,100 deaths.
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