Close X
Sunday, November 17, 2024
ADVT 
National

Canada pulls diplomats' kids out of Israel as fear of broader war builds

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 08 Aug, 2024 10:29 AM
  • Canada pulls diplomats' kids out of Israel as fear of broader war builds

The Canadian government says it decided to pull its diplomats' children and their guardians out of Israel, amid fears over an expanded Mideast war.

Global Affairs Canada says it has approved the temporary relocation of the children and their guardians to a safe third country.

Embassy staff are expected to remain in Israel.

"The Embassy of Canada to Israel in Tel Aviv, the Embassy of Canada to Lebanon in Beirut, and the Representative Office of Canada to the Palestinian Authority, all remain fully operational and continue to provide essential services to Canadians, including consular services," Global Affairs Canada said in a statement Wednesday evening. 

Diplomats stationed in nearby Ramallah in the West Bank and in Beirut, Lebanon, do not have dependents living with them. 

"Staff at our missions in Lebanon and Ramallah remain in place and are being regularly updated on the ongoing situation and the measures Global Affairs Canada is taking," the department said. 

Tensions in the Middle East have sparked fears about an all-out war after the killing last week of a senior Hezbollah commander in Lebanon and Hamas's top political leader in Iran.

On Saturday, the government warned Canadians to avoid all travel to Israel due to the "ongoing regional armed conflict and the unpredictable security situation."

The government also advises against travelling to the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Jerusalem and Lebanon. 

The current conflict broke out on Oct 7, after Hamas launched a deadly surprise attack on Israel that killed an estimated 1,200 people. The Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza says more than 39,100 Palestinians have since been killed in the war.

The Gaza Strip has been ravaged by the conflict, which has also seen a previously unprecedented direct assault on Israel by Iran, as well as Israeli attacks on Iran and Lebanon, including the capital city of Beirut.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with Jordan's King Abdullah II earlier this week to express his "deep concern" over the risk of expanded conflict between Israel and Iran, as well as Hezbollah and other Iran-aligned groups. 

"The leaders underscored the urgent need to avoid further escalation, which puts the lives of civilians in the region at risk," the Prime Minister's Office said in a summary of the Tuesday call. 

MORE National ARTICLES

Military 'will be there' for Canadians in emergencies despite resource strain: Blair

Military 'will be there' for Canadians in emergencies despite resource strain: Blair
Defence Minister Bill Blair says the military's greatest responsibility is protecting Canadians, and his government intends to keep calling on them for help in domestic emergencies. Blair says he knows responding to natural disasters puts a lot of pressure on the Armed Forces, which is dealing with a personnel shortage of more than 16,000 troops. 

Military 'will be there' for Canadians in emergencies despite resource strain: Blair

Vancouver approves high-density Jericho Lands project criticized by some residents

Vancouver approves high-density Jericho Lands project criticized by some residents
Vancouver's city council has approved a high-density development concept for a 36-hectare site on the city's west side, involving13,000 new homes. The Council says the Jericho Lands Policy Statement sets the direction for development of the land owned by a joint venture that includes three First Nations.

Vancouver approves high-density Jericho Lands project criticized by some residents

Robots Tarzan and Jane, aided by AI, take over repetitive tasks at B.C. hospital lab

Robots Tarzan and Jane, aided by AI, take over repetitive tasks at B.C. hospital lab
Far from the jungle, Tarzan and Jane swing quietly into action in a sterile laboratory at St. Paul's Hospital in downtown Vancouver. They are robots that work with artificial intelligence to handle and process up to 70 per cent of the hospital's microbiology samples. The pair unscrew specimen tubes and streak the samples onto bacterial culture plates in the new $1-million automated WASPLab, short for "walk-away specimen processor."

Robots Tarzan and Jane, aided by AI, take over repetitive tasks at B.C. hospital lab

Ali's lawyers fear dead girl's dad, as police probe claim he brought gun to court

Ali's lawyers fear dead girl's dad, as police probe claim he brought gun to court
The father of a murdered 13-year-old girl has been under police investigation for allegedly bringing a gun into a Vancouver courtroom on the day that Ibrahim Ali was convicted of the killing, the man's lawyer has told a hearing. Lawyers for Ali are refusing to show up to court for post-trial proceedings citing safety concerns about the man, who can't be named because of a publication ban on the identity of the murdered girl.

Ali's lawyers fear dead girl's dad, as police probe claim he brought gun to court

Man faces seven charges after Edmonton City Hall shooting

Man faces seven charges after Edmonton City Hall shooting
Police say a man is facing seven charges after shots were fired and a Molotov cocktail was thrown at Edmonton City Hall.  The alleged offences include arson, possessing incendiary materials and discharging a firearm into a building.

Man faces seven charges after Edmonton City Hall shooting

Be on lookout for car thief

Be on lookout for car thief
Kelowna R-C-M-P are asking residents to be on the lookout for a man suspected of trying to defraud multiple car dealerships. Police say a dealership recently reported that the suspect had produced four driver's licences showing different names with the same identification photo.  

Be on lookout for car thief