Trudeau renews call for humanitarian pause in Gaza as Rafah border crossing opens

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau renewed the call for a humanitarian pause in Gaza on Wednesday amid reports some foreign nationals are being allowed through the Rafah border crossing.

Speaking to reporters in Ottawa, Trudeau said the “price of justice” for Israel seeking to eliminate Hamas for its deadly Oct. 7 attack can’t be the “continued suffering of all Palestinian civilians.”

“We are deeply concerned by the catastrophic impact on the population in Gaza, particularly among children, which is why we are calling for humanitarian aid and water and fuel to flow into Gaza,” he said.

“We’re calling on humanitarian pauses to allow that to happen.”

2:19 Some people leave Gaza after Rafah border crossing temporarily opens

Israel has sent its forces into Hamas-controlled Gaza following weeks of air and artillery strikes in retaliation for the militant group’s attack. Israel has vowed to wipe out Hamas, but the civilian death toll in Gaza and desperate humanitarian conditions have caused concern across the world as food, fuel, drinking water and medicine run short.

Roughly 1,400 people died in the Hamas attack, Israel says, while the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry says at least 8,796 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza since Oct. 7.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that the conflict would be long, but Israel would emerge victorious.

“We are in a tough war. It will be a long war,” he said.

“I promise to all citizens of Israel: We will get the job done. We will press ahead until victory.”

2:53 Gaza crisis: What happens to the body without access to clean water?

Meanwhile, aid has been trickling into Gaza through the Rafah border crossing – the only point of entry into Gaza from Egypt. Israeli officials have told civilians in Gaza to head south to the crossing while it carries out military operations in the north. Civilians have been in the area of the crossing for weeks, but it has remained closed for evacuees.

On Wednesday, the first reports emerged from Reuters and The Associated Press of between 400 and 500 seriously injured people and foreign passport holders being allows to leave through the Rafah border crossing.

2:59 Israel-Hamas: Humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens

No Canadian citizens have been included in the list, The Canadian Press reported. Global News has not independently confirmed that report.

In a statement Wednesday evening, Global Affairs Canada said that “Canada has one of the largest contingents of nationals in Gaza.”

“We expect further crossings daily over the coming days,” the statement read.

The agency also said it is aware of reports of a Canadian citizen crossing the Rafah border with a third party, but cannot share more information due to “privacy considerations.”

The General Authority for Border Crossings in Gaza published a list of those who would be permitted to leave that included citizens of Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Finland, Indonesia, Japan and Jordan.

Ottawa has said it continues to work to help Canadians exit Gaza and is communicating directly with Canadians to provide updates on how and when it will be possible to leave for Egypt through Rafah.

Trudeau called reports of the reopening “positive news” and encouraged Canadians to head there.

Global Affairs Canada has said it has helped 65 Canadian citizens, permanent residents and eligible family members leave the West Bank since the conflict began, and it is in touch with 70 people who are still there.