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

B.C. on pace for deadliest year in drug crisis as July brings another 198 deaths

B.C. on pace for deadliest year in drug crisis as July brings another 198 deaths
British Columbia is on pace for the deadliest year in its unregulated toxic-drug crisis, with the BC Coroners Service saying another 198 deaths were reported in July. It says there have been at least 1,455 deaths in the first seven months of 2023, the most ever recorded.  

B.C. on pace for deadliest year in drug crisis as July brings another 198 deaths

Man dies in 'gang-related' shooting in Mission

Man dies in 'gang-related' shooting in Mission
Homicide investigators say the victim of what they suspect was a targeted gang shooting in Mission, B.C., has died of his injuries. The Independent Homicide Investigation Team says the 45-year-old man was found wounded late Monday at Mission's Laminman Avenue after reports of gunfire.

Man dies in 'gang-related' shooting in Mission

Rain relief in sight for B.C. south and Interior as northeast swelters

Rain relief in sight for B.C. south and Interior as northeast swelters
Large portions of northeastern British Columbia continue to swelter a day after some areas hit daily record temperatures, as the forecast for rain in the south and Interior brought the promise of relief for some wildfire zones.

Rain relief in sight for B.C. south and Interior as northeast swelters

3500 rental homes to be built: BC Gov

3500 rental homes to be built: BC Gov
The B-C government is seeking proposals to create new affordable rental homes through its Community Housing Fund. Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon says the newest round of funding will create approximately 35-hundred homes.

3500 rental homes to be built: BC Gov

Feds mull stopgap plan for formula shortage before overhauling approval process: docs

Feds mull stopgap plan for formula shortage before overhauling approval process: docs
Many parents still struggle to find the right formula for their babies at a reasonable price after last year's temporary shutdown of U.S. based manufacturing plant caused a major shortage of shipments to Canada. 

Feds mull stopgap plan for formula shortage before overhauling approval process: docs

Mortality rate spiked during COVID19

Mortality rate spiked during COVID19
Statistics Canada says the country's mortality rate rose in 2021 from 2020. The agency says data shows cancer, heart disease, overdoses and COVID-19 were the leading causes of death.

Mortality rate spiked during COVID19