In a statement, Portuguese diplomacy said that at the moment there is “no data on Portuguese people directly affected” by the events taking place on Israeli territory, but “taking into account the increasingly scarce options offered by commercial flights, given the exponential demand from citizens from all parts of the world, the government has taken the decision to send an FAP aircraft to Israel, under close coordination of the Joint Military Operations Command of the General Staff of the Armed Forces (EMGFA).
“Once an overflight has been authorized by the Israeli authorities, information will be provided on when the plane will arrive and what procedures should be followed by Portuguese people wishing to depart.” mission carried out by the MNE and the Ministry of National Defense.
Following Saturday’s attack launched on Israel by the Islamist group Hamas from the Gaza Strip, about 100 Portuguese citizens have been flagged, including tourists and residentswho only contacted the emergency consular office to indicate their presence in the territory, or to request assistance in identifying alternatives to leaving the country, which are still being shared, the government further clarified.
The Islamist group Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israeli territory on Saturday, dubbed Operation ‘Al-Aqsa Storm’, with the launch of thousands of rockets and the incursion of armed militiamen by land, sea and air.
In response to the surprise attack, Israel bombed several Hamas facilities in the Gaza Strip from the air, in an operation it dubbed “Iron Swords”.
The armed conflict has already caused hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries on both sides.
Source: DN
