Close X
Saturday, November 16, 2024
ADVT 
National

No Canadians on Rafah crossing list as Israel raids Gaza hospital

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 15 Nov, 2023 10:47 AM
  • No Canadians on Rafah crossing list as Israel raids Gaza hospital

No more Canadians have been approved to leave the Gaza Strip on Wednesday via the Rafah border crossing into Egypt, as hundreds of people connected to Canada continue to wait for help to leave.

A total of 356 Canadians, permanent residents and family members have been able to leave the besieged Palestinian territory so far.

No one connected to Canada had been cleared to leave on Tuesday, and the last group of 10 people made it across on Monday. 

Global Affairs Canada said in a statement to media late Tuesday afternoon that the Canadian government is in touch with 390 people who are still in Gaza.

People who cross over are allowed to stay in Egypt for a maximum of three days, and Canadian officials are waiting on the Egyptian side of the border to help with travel, accommodation, food and basic necessities. 

Global Affairs said the Canadian government is helping with onward travel at travellers' own expense, and it is connecting people with organizations who may be able to provide financial help. 

"Canada does not determine when or how many persons can cross each day. As the situation is quite fluid and unpredictable, Canadians should be prepared for significant delays and unexpected closures at the Rafah border," the department said. 

"Canada continues to engage all relevant parties to ensure that Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and their eligible family members presently in Gaza can exit safely and promptly. We continue to communicate directly with Canadians, asking them to have their travel documents at hand and be ready to travel on short notice."

Israel declared war against Hamas after its militants killed 1,200 people on Oct. 7, including hundreds of civilians, and took about 240 people hostage.

Health officials in the Hamas-controlled territory say weeks of retaliatory airstrikes on the besieged Gaza Strip have now killed more than 11,200 people.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urged on Tuesday that Israel must use "maximum restraint" to protect civilian life in the brutal war it is waging on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

"I have been clear that the price of justice cannot be the continued suffering of all Palestinian civilians. Even wars have rules," Trudeau said at an event in Vancouver.

He said the violence urgently needs to stop, "so that Palestinians can get access to life-saving medical services, food, fuel and water, so that all hostages can be released, so that all Canadians and other nationals can leave Gaza."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rebuked Trudeau on X, formerly known as Twitter, saying "while Israel is doing everything to keep civilians out of harm's way, Hamas is doing everything to keep them in harm's way."

Israel accuses Hamas of using hospitals as cover for its fighters, alleging that Hamas has set up its main command centre in and beneath Shifa hospital, without providing visual evidence. Both Hamas and Hospital staff deny the Israeli allegations.

Israel has refused to allow fuel shipments into Gaza since Hamas's cross-border attack on Oct. 7. Israel says Hamas will divert any fuel shipments for military use.

Palestinians trapped in Gaza are struggling to survive without electricity or running water and are rationing food as Israel's siege of the territory extends into its second month.

The Canadian government has faced increased pressure domestically from the National Council of Canadian Muslims, refugee settlement agencies, opposition members and municipal politicians to call for a ceasefire, in a bid to safely evacuate civilians and deliver humanitarian aid.

Trudeau has instead called for "a sustained humanitarian pause" in the bombardments.

 

MORE National ARTICLES

Health services facility for DTES residents

Health services facility for DTES residents
The Vancouver Urban Health Centre is located at 219 Main Street and is open Monday to Friday from 9 a-m to 5 p-m. Dr. Brian Conway, the centre's medical director, says the goal is to build on the community pop-up clinics his team has offered on the Downtown Eastside for years.

Health services facility for DTES residents

BC to address non-consensual sharing of intimate images

BC to address non-consensual sharing of intimate images
Niki Sharma told the legislature in March that the government is proposing a law that would create new legal rights and remedies to stop the distribution of such images and to seek compensation for those who are harmed.  

BC to address non-consensual sharing of intimate images

B.C.'s Cache Creek becomes raging river as floodwaters rise: mayor

B.C.'s Cache Creek becomes raging river as floodwaters rise: mayor
B.C.'s River Forecast Centre has issued two flood warnings, its highest-level bulletin, while several lower-level flood watches and high streamflow advisories covered much of the province's northern, central and southern Interior on Wednesday.

B.C.'s Cache Creek becomes raging river as floodwaters rise: mayor

Bust results in seizure of cash and drugs: Kelowna RCMP

Bust results in seizure of cash and drugs: Kelowna RCMP
The officer stopped a green 1997 Toyota Corolla on April 29th after it failed to stop for a pedestrian crossing the street at a marked crosswalk. When the officer had the driver exit the vehicle on suspicion of driving under the influence, a clear baggy of suspected drugs fell to the ground.

Bust results in seizure of cash and drugs: Kelowna RCMP

BC temp records broken on Tuesday

BC temp records broken on Tuesday
Environment Canada says heat records were broken in eight different areas as a ridge of high pressure brought in warm spring weather. In Nelson, the temperature hit 30.2 Celsius, breaking a record set back in 1937.

BC temp records broken on Tuesday

No word on which Canadians will attend crowning of King Charles in London

No word on which Canadians will attend crowning of King Charles in London
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Governor General Mary Simon will be at Westminster Abbey this weekend as the King is officially crowned, but the rest of the official Canadian delegation largely remains a mystery.

No word on which Canadians will attend crowning of King Charles in London