Skopje, 6 November 2023 (MIA) – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working to evacuate three Macedonian nationals who are still in the Gaza Strip. The three nationals include a married couple and a citizen who is a part of the international humanitarian organizations in Gaza, but he hasn't expressed an interest in leaving the Strip, said Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani at a press conference Monday.

“The security assessment regarding who can cross the border in Gaza and Egypt is made by Israel. So far we received a permission for the first family of Macedonian nationals to cross, and they are already in Skopje, we are working to convince them to allow the married couple to leave as well. There is an additional Macedonian national, who is a part of the international humanitarian organizations, but he hasn’t expressed an interest in leaving Gaza. We contacted him, but he isn’t interested because he is a part of the humanitarian organizations in Gaza,” said Osmani in answer to a journalist’s question.

The Foreign Minister noted that the passage of foreign nationals from Gaza into Egypt is currently suspended.

“Today I was informed that the Rafah crossing was struck, and it is temporarily closed on both sides. That’s why the entire process allowing foreign nationals to cross from Gaza into Egypt is currently suspended,” said Osmani.

Osmani noted he met on Sunday with the first Macedonian nationals who left Gaza – a married couple and two children who are already in Skopje.

“Yesterday I met with the family that came from Gaza. Through Egypt we brought them back to Skopje with the help of the United Nations, and we provided them with accommodation with the help of the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy,” said Osmani.

Photo: MIA/MIA Archive