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Canadian in Gaza says Israeli air strikes now relentless ahead of ground invasion

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 23 Oct, 2023 09:54 AM

A Canadian man in Gaza says Israeli airstrikes that were previously heard roughly every hour can now be heard every few minutes as the Israel-Hamas war escalates.

More than 25 members of Global Affairs Canada’s Standing Rapid Deployment Team are working hand-in-hand with our officials on the ground in #TelAviv, #Ramallah, #Athens, #Beirut, #Amman, #Cyprus and #Cairo providing emergency consular services to Canadians. pic.twitter.com/BItZwwXTIe
— Travel.gc.ca (@TravelGoC) October 19, 2023

Mansour Shouman says Israel's bombardment of Gaza has grown relentless recently, and even locations where civilians were previously advised to take refuge are not safe.

The sounds of explosions can be heard in the background as Shouman says he narrowly escaped an airstrike near the southern Gaza hospital complex where he has been taking shelter.

He also says that small shipments of aid that were twice allowed into Gaza over the weekend have barely made a dent in the massive need for essentials.

Israel has still not allowed any fuel to enter Gaza, where there has been a power blackout for nearly two weeks since Hamas' Oct. 7 rampage into southern Israeli communities.

Israel is expected to launch a ground offensive in Gaza and says it has stepped up airstrikes in order to reduce the risk to troops in the next stages.

Shouman, who was born in Gaza, used to live in Calgary and moved with his family to the Middle East in 2006, says he has been trying to raise awareness about the humanitarian toll the war is taking.

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