The 19 South Africans who were stuck in Gaza since October are finally on their way home.
The 19 South Africans who were stuck in war-hit Gaza for almost two months are en-route home.
While the hostilities continue between Israel and Hamas, the six males and 13 females, who were in Gaza since Saturday October 7 have now arrived safely in Cairo, Egypt, and will soon be making their way back to South Africa, said the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) on Monday, December 4.
The South Africans were approved for evacuation into Egypt by the Israeli authorities on Sunday, November 11, DIRCO said.
The 19 South Africans were relieved to be heading home and looked forward to seeing their family and friends.
“South Africa extends its gratitude to the government of Egypt for granting the evacuated foreign nationals a safe passage through the Rafah Crossing into its country,” DIRCO said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the department said the Israeli government has indicated that it intends to extend its attack on the people of Gaza.
“The statements from Israeli leaders appear impervious to the global calls for an immediate end to the killing of Palestinian civilians,” DIRCO added. “South Africa calls for an immediate and permanent ceasefire and the resumption of talks that will end the violence arising from the continued belligerent occupation and lays the basis for a just and lasting solution.”