The first group of Spaniards living in Gaza is set to depart on Monday. Approximately forty individuals are involved, confirmed to this publication by diplomatic sources. Their evacuation ends a five-week ordeal marked by ongoing bombings and Israel’s siege of the Strip, during which at least 11,000 people have been killed, including around 4,000 children. Separated families include at least 22 minors.
Officials say the latest updates indicate that the Spanish-Palestinians have crossed the Palestinian checkpoint and reached the entry point into Egypt for a final exit. This information was shared by the foreign minister after a meeting with European counterparts.
Spaniards of Palestinian origin were summoned at dawn at the Rafa crossing, the gateway from Gaza to Egypt. Those waiting were civilians who have remained inside the Strip since the onset of hostilities triggered by the assault on October 7, which claimed the lives of 1,400 Israelis.
Once clearance is granted, the group will be transferred to Cairo. A Spanish Air Force aircraft will bring them back to Spain. Diplomatic sources caution that unforeseen events could affect the pace of clearance and that border checks are expected to proceed slowly.
The Spanish Consulate in Jerusalem provided the authorities with the names of those eligible for departure. One of the earliest Gaza residents to choose evacuation has already opted to leave. Approval from both Israel and Egypt is required for passage. According to agencies, the list is circulated each night on the Gaza Transition and Borders Administration’s Facebook page.
Foreigners Evacuated from Gaza
About 500 people from Russia, Poland, and Brazil exited Gaza this Sunday from the same crossing point that has been intermittently closed and reopened during the conflict. Since the first departure on November 1, more than 1,400 people have been evacuated, mainly foreign nationals, followed by Palestinians holding dual nationality. Among those leaving are passport holders from the United States, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, France, Poland, India, the Philippines, Russia, and Brazil.
Two Spaniards who worked in humanitarian roles were among the earliest to depart: Raúl Incertis, an anesthetist with Médecins Sans Frontières, left on November 1; the following day, Jesús Pérez Arellano, a staff member with the Office of the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, departed as well.
A Russian-Palestinian who was evacuated on Sunday reported to international bodies that his family endured nearly 35 days without reliable water, electricity, or adequate food. He described how at the crossing gate, medics routinely collect a small amount of blood from arriving evacuees, and many were informed they would first go to Cairo before reaching their final destinations.
Evacuation of Spaniards from Gaza
Current estimates place the number of Spaniards living in Gaza at around 180, as confirmed by the coordinator of the Spanish community in the region. The coordinator expressed confidence that the evacuation would proceed within days, stating that all preparations in Egypt are in place to support the operation.
For the first time since the war began, Spaniards residing in the Strip obtained official approval from the Spanish Consulate in Jerusalem for their evacuation plans. The majority of Spaniards in Gaza are currently located in Rafah and Khan Younis, towns in the southern part of the territory, where roughly 1.7 million Gazans have sought refuge from intense northern strikes.