Close X
Sunday, September 22, 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

Rain across B.C. Interior aids wildfire fight in Okanagan, Shuswap and Fraser Canyon

Rain across B.C. Interior aids wildfire fight in Okanagan, Shuswap and Fraser Canyon
The Columbia Shuswap Regional District says while cooler weather brought winds that may increase fire behaviour at the Bush Creek East blaze near Chase, the rain is "creating conditions for firefighters to increase their attack" on the fire now measuring 431 square kilometres.

Rain across B.C. Interior aids wildfire fight in Okanagan, Shuswap and Fraser Canyon

Thief caught sleeping in the driver's seat of a stolen vehicle

Thief caught sleeping in the driver's seat of a stolen vehicle
On August 26th at approximately 5:00am patrol officers responded to a call about a suspicious car parked on Churchill Street. When officers attended, they could see a male sleeping in the driver’s seat. Given the male did not match the description of the registered owner, officers contacted the registered owner who confirmed his car had been stolen overnight.

Thief caught sleeping in the driver's seat of a stolen vehicle

British Columbians unsure about self-driving cars

British Columbians unsure about self-driving cars
A new study from U-B-C suggests British Columbians have mixed feelings about self-driving cars. Researchers engaged more than 11-hundred participants from across the province, asking them to watch eight videos showing interactions between pedestrians and vehicles at crosswalks.

British Columbians unsure about self-driving cars

2 charged in Ponzi scheme

2 charged in Ponzi scheme
Police in Edmonton have charged two people in an alleged Ponzi scheme targeting residents of Alberta and B-C. The department's financial crimes section says it became aware of the alleged scam in early 2020.

2 charged in Ponzi scheme

B.C. judge to review police handling of Surrey constable caught drunk driving

B.C. judge to review police handling of Surrey constable caught drunk driving
The Office of British Columbia's Police Complaint Commissioner has ordered a review of the case of a Surrey Police Service officer it says asked to be let off when he was caught driving while impaired. It says an investigation by Surrey police confirmed two allegations of discreditable conduct and another of corrupt practice against Const. Rajbir Thaper, but proposed discipline amounting to five days of unpaid suspension was inadequate.

B.C. judge to review police handling of Surrey constable caught drunk driving

Richmond Hospital Foundation gets $10 M from owner of Dan-D Foods

Richmond Hospital Foundation gets $10 M from owner of Dan-D Foods
A Richmond business owner is donating 10-million-dollars to the city's hospital. Dan-D Foods founder and owner Dan On says he wants to contribute to the community where he lives and works after living in poverty in Vietnam before moving to Canada and forming his company.

Richmond Hospital Foundation gets $10 M from owner of Dan-D Foods