Close X
Friday, November 29, 2024
ADVT 
National

Canada to airlift citizens, permanent residents out of Israel in 'coming days': Joly

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 10 Oct, 2023 05:25 PM
  • Canada to airlift citizens, permanent residents out of Israel in 'coming days': Joly

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly confirmed Tuesday that Ottawa is planning to airlift Canadians out of Tel Aviv in "the coming days," as conflict between Israel and Hamas escalates. 

Joly said the government aims to conduct the evacuation using aircraft from the Canadian Armed Forces, and it is working on additional options for people who are unable to reach the airport in Tel Aviv.

She said in a statement posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the flights will be available to Canadian citizens and permanent residents, along with their spouses and their children.

"I know that this situation has been difficult. Many of you want to return home to your family and have no way to do so safely," Joly's statement said. 

"We will help you."

More details will be available on Wednesday, Joly promised.

In the meantime, she said, Canadians who are in Israel should register with Global Affairs Canada. They are asked to contact the department at sos@international.gc.ca or +1-613-996-8885.

Global Affairs has urged Canadians in the region to limit their movements.

In a statement on Tuesday, the department said it had received 785 requests for help since the conflict began, adding that most inquiries related to travel advice and advisories, the status of flights and airports, the overall security situation and requests for information about family members' well-being or whereabouts.

Joly's statement did not mention the Gaza Strip.

Israel is hammering Gaza in retaliation for a surprise attack by Hamas militants on Israeli soil on Saturday, with fighting causing the deaths of at least 1,800 people so far. Friends and family have confirmed to The Canadian Press the deaths of two Canadians, 22-year-old Ben Mizrachi from Vancouver and 33-year-old Alexandre Look from Montreal, who died when gunman swarmed a music festival in southern Israel. 

Some Canadians have been pleading for help to get their loved ones out of the Hamas-controlled territory as Israel closes off access. 

In what the Israeli government is describing as a total siege, the entry of food, fuel and medicines into Gaza has been halted, with aid organizations sounding the alarm. 

Earlier on Tuesday, the Conservative party had urged the federal Liberals to help Canadians in Israel, accusing the government of "consular and diplomatic failures." 

A statement from the party's foreign-affairs critic, Michael Chong, said members of Parliament were hearing "too many stories" from Canadians who were reaching out for assistance but getting no answers. 

Both Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre have signalled their staunch support for Israel, condemning the Hamas attack that initiated hostilities on the weekend. 

 

MORE National ARTICLES

Structural losses from wildfires in West Kelowna area estimated at fewer than 90

Structural losses from wildfires in West Kelowna area estimated at fewer than 90
Premier David Eby was scheduled to visit the fire-ravaged southern Interior on Tuesday, along with Emergency Management Minister Bowinn Ma and Forests Minister Bruce Ralston, to get a first-hand look at the devastation caused by the raging wildfires. 

Structural losses from wildfires in West Kelowna area estimated at fewer than 90

Firearms charges against US man

Firearms charges against US man
The Canada Border Services Agency says charges have been laid against an American man after he attempted to bring guns into the country. It says in a statement today that the man was stopped on May 6 by C-B-S-A officers at the Abbotsford border crossing as he attempted to pass through B-C on his way to Alaska.

Firearms charges against US man

Too early to provide estimates of insured damages from BC wildfires : Insurance Bureau of Canada

Too early to provide estimates of insured damages from BC wildfires : Insurance Bureau of Canada
The Insurance Bureau of Canada says it's too early to provide estimates of insured damages from British Columbia fires that are still burning. However, experts do recommend getting your insurance claim started as soon as possible.

Too early to provide estimates of insured damages from BC wildfires : Insurance Bureau of Canada

Federal cabinet retreat to hear from housing experts today

Federal cabinet retreat to hear from housing experts today
Two housing experts who helped co-author a recent report on the federal government's role in solving the housing crisis are set to present their findings to the cabinet later today. The report delivered a week ago warns that "Canada's housing crisis is worsening dramatically" in large part because of an "extreme" lack of accessible and affordable rentals.

Federal cabinet retreat to hear from housing experts today

Eby to visit wildfire ravaged areas of BC

Eby to visit wildfire ravaged areas of BC
BC Premier David Eby wants to visit the province's fire-ravaged southern Interior today to reassure residents that the government will be there to help rebuild when the wildfire crisis has passed. Several large blazes are burning in the region, including the 110-square-kilometre McDougall Creek wildfire.

Eby to visit wildfire ravaged areas of BC

Broaden scope of Canada's weather alert system to account for wildfires, expert urges

Broaden scope of Canada's weather alert system to account for wildfires, expert urges
As wildfires rage in western Canada, a communications and broadcasting policy expert says the national weather alerting system should account for a wider range of extreme events. 

Broaden scope of Canada's weather alert system to account for wildfires, expert urges