Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly visited Israel earlier Friday and met with her counterpart in the country, foreign affairs minister Eli Cohen, Global Affairs Canada official Julie Sunday said during a press conference Friday.
Joly heard first-hand about Hamas’ attack on Israel and “underlined Canada’s steadfast support,” Sunday said.
Joly also discussed the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza and met with Canadians who took Canadian military flights from Israel to Athens, Greece, Sunday said. Joly has since left Israel and has landed in Amman, Jordan.
Global Affairs Canada said in a statement late Friday that “almost 430” people have been evacuated from Israel so far. Most of the passengers on Canadian flights out of Tel Aviv so far are Canadians, the agency said, along with some Israelis, Americans, Australians, Greeks and Brazilians.
The new number is almost double the amount reported by Sunday, the assistant deputy minister for consular, security and emergency management at Global Affairs Canada, earlier in the day.
Flights are set to continue on Saturday, the agency said.
Sunday said that there currently are over 6,500 Canadians in Israel registered with Global Affairs and 485 Canadians are registered in the West Bank and Gaza.
About 1,300 Canadians in Israel are currently seeking GAC assistance, with a further 150 in Gaza and 190 in the West Bank. There are still 600 Canadians whose location is not clear and GAC is reaching out, Sunday said, and the agency continues to follow up on the cases of four missing Canadians.
She said Ottawa’s Emergency Watch and Response Centre has responded to nearly 600 inquiries in the last 24 hours, and has received over 3,300 inquiries since Hamas launched its attack on Israel on Saturday.
Potential exit for Canadians in Gaza
GAC has learned of an opportunity for those in Gaza to leave via the Rafah gate into Egypt between 12:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday said, noting that the agency is working with Egypt and Israel to ensure Canadians, permanent residents and their families are able to leave.
She said GAC will be making Canadians aware that there is a possibility of crossing in that window, but won’t tell Canadians to move until there is confirmation as the plan is currently “very tentative.”
“The last thing we want is Canadians getting stuck at the border,” Sunday said.
Before Joly’s visit, her office said she will be pushing for a joint effort to establish a humanitarian corridor into Gaza, which Israel vowed to put under “complete siege,” to get aid like food, water and medical supplies to civilians there.
“Canada is shocked and saddened by the events that unfolded over the last week. My thoughts are with all civilians impacted by the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, which has also taken a toll on communities at home in Canada and around the world,” Joly said in a statement.
“My priority is to meet with partners and see first-hand the evolving situation on the ground so that Canada can provide the support most needed at this critical time.”
The minister’s office adds she will reaffirm Canada’s stance that Israel has the right to defend itself in accordance with international law in the wake of last week’s attacks. Roughly 2,800 people are dead in the attack and the subsequent airstrikes on Gaza, including three Canadians.
The Israeli government says more than 100 people were kidnapped, and the Hamas assault left thousands injured.
Joly is set to be in the region until Oct. 15, which includes a visit to neighbouring Jordan.
Following the Hamas attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the nation was “at war.” Israel’s security cabinet soon after approved the declaration of war, and Netanyahu formed a wartime cabinet with the opposition leader.
Now, Israel is calling on around one million civilians to evacuate the northern portion of Gaza within 24 hours ahead of a potential ground invasion. This includes Gaza City, home to approximately 590,000 people.
The UN considers this evacuation impossible within that timeline without “devastating” humanitarian consequences.
“Forget about food, forget about electricity, forget about fuel. The only concern now is just if you’ll make it, if you’re going to live,” Nebal Farsakh, a spokesperson for the Palestinian Red Crescent in Gaza City, said as she broke into heaving sobs speaking with The Associated Press.
Hamas dismissed the evacuation call as “psychological warfare” and is calling on people to stay in their homes.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a new $10-million humanitarian aid package for both Israel and Palestinian civilians at a press conference in Yellowknife on Thursday.
A senior Canadian government official said that money would go to trusted humanitarian organizations like the Red Cross to ensure funds do not go to Hamas, which is a designated terrorist organization in Canada.
The official added that trying to establish a humanitarian corridor is one of Canada’s main diplomatic priorities in the region.
— with files from The Associated Press.
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