MFA: 37 Bulgarian citizens and their family members have requested assistance to leave the Gaza Strip
18 October 2023 News.jpeg)
In connection with the media inquiries regarding the number of Bulgarian citizens in Gaza, we would like to inform you that according to our overseas missions in the region, 37 Bulgarian citizens and their family members have so far sought assistance to leave the Gaza Strip. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in constant contact with the diplomatic missions of Bulgaria in Tel Aviv, Cairo and Ramallah, and in close coordination with other EU Member States and partner countries, opportunities are being sought to assist their evacuation. The latter is not possible at the moment, as no arrangement has been finalised for the opening of Rafah BCP.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has a list of Bulgarian citizens and their family members who requested assistance for evacuation. He has been handed over to the Israeli and Egyptian authorities, who are awaiting permission to leave Gaza and enter Egypt respectively. Our diplomatic mission in Ramallah and the embassy in Cairo are in constant contact with the families of our compatriots, and stand ready to assist their removal from Gaza and their passage to Egypt whenever possible.
Regarding publications in foreign media about a Bulgarian citizen kidnapped by the Palestinian group Hamas, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed that no such information had been received by the Ministry so far. The Embassy of Bulgaria in Tel Aviv is in constant contact with the Israeli authorities and continues to follow the issue.