Close X
Monday, November 18, 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

Vancouver to open outdoor pools on Saturday

Vancouver to open outdoor pools on Saturday
The city says designated swim areas at eight beaches will be patrolled from 11:30 a-m to 8:30 p-m daily. The hours will change later in the summer as the sun sets earlier.

Vancouver to open outdoor pools on Saturday

Janice Abbott, embattled CEO of B.C. housing operator Atira, resigns after audit

Janice Abbott, embattled CEO of B.C. housing operator Atira, resigns after audit
Janice Abbott resigned with immediate effect, the society announced Monday. Elva Kim, who chairs the board of Atira, said in a statement that she's confident Abbott's resignation would allow Atira to continue its work with "fewer distractions."

Janice Abbott, embattled CEO of B.C. housing operator Atira, resigns after audit

Global, economic security top priorities as Trudeau heads to South Korea, G7 summit

Global, economic security top priorities as Trudeau heads to South Korea, G7 summit
The prime minister is expected to be in Seoul between May 16 and May 18, after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's visit to Ottawa last fall. Since then, both countries have released their Indo-Pacific strategies, plans that aim to counterbalance Chinese influence by increasing economic and military ties in the region.

Global, economic security top priorities as Trudeau heads to South Korea, G7 summit

Ex-Vancouver mayor, Kennedy Stewart, takes aim at current mayor Ken Sim

Ex-Vancouver mayor, Kennedy Stewart, takes aim at current mayor Ken Sim
Kennedy Stewart says a memorandum of understanding between the city, the park board, and the province, meant to help people living in encampments, is being "recklessly disregarded." He describes Sim's support of the V-P-D in dismantling the tent encampment as "hyper colonial" and "cruel."  

Ex-Vancouver mayor, Kennedy Stewart, takes aim at current mayor Ken Sim

Spike in housing starts:CMHC

Spike in housing starts:CMHC
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation reports the annual pace of housing starts jumped 22 per cent between March and April. It says the increase is due to a 33 per cent rise in starts of multi-unit urban homes.

Spike in housing starts:CMHC

Tourism to kick off once again for Canada

Tourism to kick off once again for Canada
The World Travel and Tourism Council says a return of overseas visitors to Canada's biggest cities will fuel a big rebound in Canada's travel and tourism sector this year. It's predicting the industry will pump 162.6-billion dollars into the economy, up more than 17 per cent from last year.

Tourism to kick off once again for Canada