A total of 139 Spanish-Palestinians and their families evacuated from Gaza arrive in Madrid on board an A330 of the Spanish Air and Space Army

The contingent travelled on an Air and Space Army A330 aircraft, having been picked up this morning in Cairo, Egypt. The group of evacuees that had requested to leave Gaza consists of 39 women and 33 men, three children under the age of one and 64 under the age of 18.

Personnel from the 45th Air Forces Group, the Air Deployment Support Squadron (EADA), the Aero Evacuation Medical Unit (UMAER) and the Combat Air Command (MACOM) took part in the operation, all under the operational control of the Operations Command.

After welcoming the evacuees at the foot of the plane's stairs, the acting Minister for Defence stated that "Spain will always be there in difficult and complicated situations", and referred to the effectiveness of the "joint and difficult work" in which both ministries, the diplomatic corps, the Armed Forces, personnel from the National Intelligence Centre, the Air and Space Army crew and the Operations Command were involved.

"We will always remain committed to just causes, as in this case in Gaza, to save people who are being subjected to indiscriminate violence", said Robles, who added that the minors who have arrived in Spain will have "a new life and a new homeland" in this country.

For his part, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation stressed that this was an "extremely complex" operation, which required the authorisations of the Israeli and Egyptian governments. He also thanked Qatar for its cooperation in making the evacuation possible and the work of the embassies in Egypt, Israel and the Consulate General in Jerusalem.

"We are pleased, but it is a horrible situation, and we must not forget all the Palestinian civilians who are still living through the unbearable horror of Gaza right now. The Government of Spain will not stop calling for a humanitarian ceasefire so that humanitarian aid, which Spain has tripled in recent weeks, can enter Gaza and reach the civilian population", said Albares, who insisted on the Spanish proposal for a Peace Conference that would lead to the materialisation of a two-state solution.

Ministers welcomed and talked with the new arrivals, who said they felt very tired, but very reassured to be here. The Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral General Teodoro López Calderón, and the Secretary for Foreign and Global Affairs, Ángeles Moreno, also visited the Torrejón Air Base.

A first group of 40 evacuees, composed mainly of families with very young children and elderly people in vulnerable situations, left on Monday through the Rafah border crossing and travelled in buses with Spanish embassy staff to Cairo.

A second contingent of some 80 people left on Tuesday, and a final group left Gaza on Wednesday for the Egyptian capital, where the total contingent left for Spain today.

Non official translation