A plane carrying 140 Belgians and others that have a legal right to be brought to Belgium has arrived at Melsbroek Military Airport (Flemish Brabant). All 140 people, many of whom children, that were aboard the plane had come here from Gaza. After the plane touched down on Monday evening they were taken by bus to the Military Hospital in Neder-Over-Heembeek (Brussels) for a medical check-up.
The plane touched down at around 9:30pm on Monday evening. Many of those aboard were women and children. At the end of last month around 80 Belgians and people that had a right to be brought here arrived from Gaza. There are currently a further 110 Belgian nationals and people that are entitled to be brought here still in Gaza.
The Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib is keen to stress that "We are doing all we can for those that are still there". In order to ensure the repatriation of foreigners, both the Israeli and the Egyptian authorities must be provided with a list containing the names of those that are to be repatriated. Ms Lahbib’s office reports that around 110 people have asked to be repatriated. However, there is a chance that this figure will increase.
It remains to be seen when they will be able to leave Gaza. This depends on the speed at which the Israeli and Egyptian authorities approve the names on the list that the Belgian Foreign Ministry has provided. This is the third time that Belgians and people with a right to be brought here have arrived from Gaza since the start of the conflict.
Who is entitled to be evacuated to Belgium from Gaza?
According to the Flemish Government's website, the following people currently in Gaza can register to be put on the evacuation list.
- Belgian nationals
- Persons granted stateless or refugee status by Belgium
- Citizens of the European Union who are not represented by their home Member State.