The Portuguese Air Force C-130 is on its way to Tel Aviv to pick up at least 150 nationals wishing to leave Israel due to the conflict with Hamas, the Foreign Affairs Ministry affairs announced on Monday.
The deployment of the C-130 “is the result of ongoing coordination with the local authorities and is being carried out by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of National Defence,” the statement added.
“The Portuguese Air Force’s C-130 aircraft has already left Figo Maduro Transit Aerodrome No. 1, heading for Tel Aviv. The flight will stop in Cyprus, and it is expected to be in the Israeli capital by the end of today,” the statement said, warning that “the mission is subject to conditions on the ground”.
“Nationals who have requested support in leaving the country are already being contacted by the consular services. The operation conditions are dynamic and constantly evaluated, with the ultimate goal being the withdrawal of nationals who have expressed an interest in leaving the country,” it concludes.
On Saturday, the Islamist Hamas movement launched a surprise attack on Israeli territory under the name of 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 installations in the Gaza Strip from the air in an operation called “Iron Swords”.
(Dina Aleixo & Eduardo Lobão, edited by Nuno Simas | Lusa.pt)
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