Close X
Tuesday, September 24, 2024
ADVT 
National

Global Affairs Canada 'aware of reports' of missing Canadian in Gaza Strip

Darpan News Desk IANS, 08 Feb, 2024 12:08 PM
  • Global Affairs Canada 'aware of reports' of missing Canadian in Gaza Strip

Ottawa says it is aware of reports that another Canadian citizen has gone missing in the Gaza Strip.

Global Affairs Canada says it is providing consular assistance to the family but can't share more because of privacy considerations. 

The Associated Press reports that Israeli forces detained two young adult American brothers and their Canadian father in Gaza in an overnight raid.

Relatives of the men say they were taken from their home.

A U.S. Embassy official in Jerusalem reached by telephone from Washington said American officials were aware of the situation and were following up with Israeli authorities.

The embassy official gave no details and ended the call without giving her name, while the Israeli foreign ministry and military had no immediate comment.

Borak Alagha, 18, and Hashem Alagha, 20, two brothers born in the Chicago area, are among fewer than 50 U.S. citizens known to still be trying to leave sealed-off Gaza, as the Israel-Hamas war entered its fifth month.

Cousin Yasmeen Elagha, a law student at Northwestern University, said Israeli forces entered the family home in the community of al-Muwasi, near the southern city of Khan Younis, around 5 a.m. Gaza time Thursday.

The soldiers tied up and blindfolded the women and children in the family, and placed them outside the home, the cousin said.

The two American brothers, their Canadian citizen father, a mentally disabled uncle and two other adult male relatives were taken away by the Israelis, and remain missing, Elagha said.

Men of a neighboring household were also taken away. So were other adult male relatives of another Alagha household, for a total of about 20 detained, the U.S. cousin said.

A family social media account from Gaza also described the detentions.

State Department spokespeople in Washington had no immediate comment on the reported detention of the American brothers.

The brothers would be among three American citizens taken into custody by Israeli forces this week, during the same time Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited the region to try to mediate a ceasefire and hostage release deal with ally Israel and regional Arab leaders.

MORE National ARTICLES

First days of autumn expected to be cool and damp over most of British Columbia

First days of autumn expected to be cool and damp over most of British Columbia
Much of British Columbia will welcome the first week of fall with wet, cool conditions after enduring a summer of drought. Autumn officially begins at 11:50 p.m. Pacific time on Friday and Environment Canada forecasts show clouds and showers are expected to sweep across the south coast within hours of the autumnal equinox.

First days of autumn expected to be cool and damp over most of British Columbia

Woman assaulted in Coquitlam

Woman assaulted in Coquitlam
R-C-M-P in Coquitlam say a man has been charged following an attack on a woman walking along a popular urban trail in that Metro Vancouver city. Police say a 32-year-old man was charged with separate counts of assault with a weapon and assault by choking related to the September 7th attack.

Woman assaulted in Coquitlam

B.C. First Nation research finds 158 child deaths at four facilities

B.C. First Nation research finds 158 child deaths at four facilities
An investigation into unmarked graves and missing children by British Columbia’s Sto:lo Nation has revealed at least 158 deaths, most of them at a hospital. Researchers with the nation say archival documents from three residential schools and a First Nation hospital show most of the children reportedly died of disease, some of accidents, while other causes of death are unknown.   

B.C. First Nation research finds 158 child deaths at four facilities

One arrested in LGBTQ rally

One arrested in LGBTQ rally
Vancouver police say one person was briefly taken into custody yesterday during protests and counter-protests related to including sexual orientation and gender identity supports in B-C schools. Police say the arrest happened during a confrontation between opposing groups but they say there were no significant public safety issues.

One arrested in LGBTQ rally

Families concerned over 'escalating tension' between India and Canada

Families concerned over 'escalating tension' between India and Canada
With India warning its citizens to “exercise utmost caution” while in Canada amid escalation of the diplomatic row between the two countries, the families of students and permanent residents, particularly the Hindus and Hindu-Canadians residing in the north American nation, are concerned about their well being. 

Families concerned over 'escalating tension' between India and Canada

Indian-origin MP says Canadian Hindus 'soft targets', urges them to be calm, vigilant

Indian-origin MP says Canadian Hindus 'soft targets', urges them to be calm, vigilant
Stating that Hindu Canadians are 'soft targets', Indian-origin MP Chandra Arya on Thursday urged the community to stay calm, vigilant and report incidents of Hinduphobia in the face of a recent video by a Khalistani leader threatening and asking them to leave the country.

Indian-origin MP says Canadian Hindus 'soft targets', urges them to be calm, vigilant