![Trapped Brazilians, whose fate hurt Israel-Brazil ties, leave Gaza](https://i-invdn-com.investing.com/news/world_news_2_69x52._800x533_L_1419494365.jpg)
By Camila Moreira
SAO PAULO (Reuters) – Practically three dozen Brazilians who had been trapped inside Gaza for weeks, and whose predicament had pushed a diplomatic wedge between Brasilia and Israel, crossed the border into Egypt on Sunday, the overseas ministry mentioned.
“The group of 32 Brazilians and families are already in Egyptian territory, where they were received by a team from the Brazilian embassy in Cairo, which is responsible for the final step of the repatriation operation,” the overseas ministry wrote on X, previously Twitter.
The Brazilians are due again in Brazil late on Monday night, the ministry mentioned, and are anticipated to fulfill with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Two of the group determined to remain for private causes, it mentioned. In whole, 17 kids, 9 ladies and 6 males exited through the Rafah crossing, by means of which overseas nationals and assist have been transported backwards and forwards into Gaza.
The Palestinian enclave has been underneath bombardment by Israel, which goals to destroy Hamas militants who attacked Israel from Gaza on Oct. 7.
The sluggish tempo of launch of the trapped Brazilians elevated friction between Brazil and Israel, which erupted final week after Israeli spy company Mossad mentioned it helped foil a Hezbollah assault in Brazil. An look by Israel’s ambassador to Brazil with former President Jair Bolsonaro, a staunch Israel ally and longtime Lula political foe, additionally irked Brazilian officers.