The Belgium Government has announced that there are still around 250 Belgians and their dependents inside the besieged Gaza Strip.
Since the start of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, 50 of the more than 300 Belgians and their dependents have been evacuated from the area, noted Hubert Cooreman, head of the Middle East department at the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to MPs on Monday.
"In total, there are 330 people, compatriots and their relatives, in the Gaza Strip," Cooreman told the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Monday afternoon.
Belgium handed over a list of 298 names to the Israeli and Egyptian authorities, 50 of whom were given the green light to evacuate on 1 November and leave Gaza.
Diplomatic efforts continue regarding the fate of the remaining 248 others, but there is still no concrete solution. Belgian diplomatic missions in the region are "in constant contact" and continues to press for their evacuation, Cooreman told the Belga News Agency.
Belgium is seeking help from Qatar "to speed things up", he said, "but it remains a difficult exercise."
The committee is conducting hearings to culminate in a resolution on the ongoing conflict in the region, which has been marked by war between Israel and Hamas since 7 October.
Political debates are expected to resume on Wednesday.
