237 Belgians and Palestinians with right of residence in Belgium are still in the Gaza Strip and are waiting to be evacuated to Belgium the Belgian foreign ministry confirms. A dangerous journey to southern Gaza and difficult security procedures are complicating their journey to Belgium. Earlier, 489 other Belgians and people with right of abode here were able to leave the Strip successfully.
Since the start of evacuations in early November, some 490 people have already made it to Belgium. These include people with Belgian nationality, but also, for example, Palestinians working for the Belgian government. Their spouses and children who are minors can also be evacuated with them.
More than six months after the start of a new phase in the conflict, 237 others are still waiting for a chance to travel to Belgium. You cannot leave the Gaza Strip just like that international development minister Caroline Gennez (Flemish socialist/Vooruit) says.
"People who want to escape from Gaza have to get to the southern town of Rafah of their own accord. That border crossing allows them to enter Egypt. Moving about in the Gaza Strip is not easy. There is often shelling and some areas are cordoned off by the Israeli army."
Difficult procedures
Even people who can reach Rafah cannot simply cross the border. To do so, the Israeli and Egyptian authorities must first give their permission. They first want to complete a security screening, and this turns out to be a laborious process.
"There are even people waiting for an initial security screening in inhuman conditions. Every week we ask for it to be speeded up" says the minister.
Even those people who receive the long-awaited clearance from Israel and Egypt are not yet guaranteed a smooth border crossing, Ms Gennez says. "People who do not reach the border in time, after a positive screening, will have to undergo another screening," she explains. People who reach Egypt can be repatriated via Cairo.
"The evaluation process is long and difficult," foreign minister Hadja Lahbib (Francophone liberal/MR) notes. "Especially that carried out by the Israeli and Egyptian authorities, but Belgium is not giving up. We want our compatriots to be able to leave as soon as possible."
Possible attack on Rafah 'a tragedy'
Meanwhile, the situation in Rafah appears increasingly dire. Only very recently Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu hinted that the Israeli army is preparing for a large-scale ground offensive in Rafah.
"That would be a tragedy," Ms Gennez warns. "Such an attack must absolutely be avoided. The pressure from the international community not to launch such an attack is rightly very strong. It would be a bloodbath."
The situation is dire across the Gaza Strip insists Ms Lahbib. "Belgium continues to insist on unhindered structural access for aid. An immediate ceasefire is needed more than ever, but hostages must also be released."