Palestinian families in Belgium seek evacuation of relatives stranded in flood-hit Gaza

Palestinians living in Belgium have requested an urgent meeting with Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot to seek the evacuation of relatives holding Belgian visas who remain stranded in Gaza, where heavy rains and strong winds have flooded their shelters. According to Belgian news agency Belga, Ismail El Najjar, speaking on behalf of Palestinian families in Belgium, said hundreds of visa holders had suffered damage to their shelters and belongings due to severe weather since Friday night.

He said families were still awaiting concrete information from the federal government on how their relatives would be brought to Belgium. "The cold is deadly, but fear and uncertainty are as devastating as bullets," El Najjar said, adding that between 1,500 and 1,800 Palestinians holding Belgian visas were living in high-risk areas of Gaza. Prevot acknowledged that extreme weather had further worsened conditions in Gaza and expressed regret that the federal government had yet to reach an agreement on evacuations.

His office said it was considering receiving a delegation representing the families. Prevot had previously proposed prioritizing the evacuation of 320 Palestinians, but the plan stalled amid disagreements within the coalition government, including opposition to admitting 13 Gaza students holding Belgian student visas. Israeli attacks have destroyed much of Gaza's housing and infrastructure, leaving many Palestinians in temporary shelters vulnerable to worsening winter conditions.