Â鶹ӰÊÓ

Skip to main content

32 more Canadians evacuated from Gaza, GAC says

Share

Another 32 Canadians were evacuated from Gaza via the Rafah border crossing Thursday, the federal government confirmed.

It comes two days after the first group of 75 Canadian citizens, permanent residents and their families left Gaza and one day after no foreign nationals were able to pass through the key crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip because it had closed.

Global Affairs Canada (GAC) said nine other Canadians have been able to get out of Gaza, after noting over the past few days that some have managed to leave by other means.

This brings the total number of Canadians able to get out of Gaza to 116.

Officials said Tuesday those making the crossing will be heading to Cairo, and then on to Canada. While in Cairo, Canada is providing accommodation, food and basic necessities. Egypt's government is allowing those who cross from Gaza to stay in the country for a maximum of three days, according to federal officials.

Ambassador Louis Dumas told Power Play host Vassy Kapelos Thursday afternoon of the 40 Canadians who were on the list of approved names, he can confirm 31 were eventually able to leave. Â鶹ӰÊÓ later confirmed with GAC an additional Canadian was able to get out through the Rafah border crossing.

"They are now sitting on the Egyptian side of the border being processed by Egyptian officials," Dumas said Thursday afternoon. "So, very good news, … today, and we hope—if we can—have a few more."

Dumas said the federal government works tirelessly every day to get Canadians out of Gaza.

"We spare no effort talking to the people who produce the list—we’re talking here about the Israeli officials, Egyptian officials, and their conversations," Dumas said. "We try to influence, as much as possible, the possibility of having more Canadians, permanent residents and their family members on the list."

Watch the full interview with Ambassador Dumas tonight at 5 p.m. on CTV's Power Play with Vassy Kapelos.

'VERY CONCERNED' ABOUT GAZA: JOLY

GAC has previously warned of the unpredictability of the situation in Gaza and that "Canadians should be prepared for significant delays and unexpected closures at the Rafah border."

Speaking to reporters from Vancouver after returning from a G7 meeting in Tokyo, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said Canada remains "very concerned about the situation in Gaza."

"We all condemned the terrorist attacks. We all call for the hostages to be released. And we all call for more humanitarian aid to be sent to Gaza," Joly said.

She added Canada has appointed Assistant Deputy Minister for Consular Affairs Julie Sunday as senior official for hostage affairs.

"Julie was in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem recently. She has left Israel, she is now heading to Egypt and will be heading to Qatar afterwards," Joly said.

The foreign affairs minister also reaffirmed Canada's call for "humanitarian pauses" and praised the "good news" shared by the White House that Israel has agreed to four-hour pauses daily to allow civilians to get out.

"There are also Canadians scheduled to be leaving tomorrow (Friday), of course we will continue to press on all parties to keep the Rafah gate open," Joly said.

AID ALLOCATED

Minister of International Development Ahmed Hussen announced Thursday that Canada is allocating $20 million in funding, from the already announced $60 million in aid, to various United Nations and Red Cross organizations "for humanitarian assistance to address urgent needs in Gaza, the West Bank and neighbouring areas," according to a release from GAC.

Hussen made the announcement at the International Humanitarian Conference for the Civilian Population in Gaza, which was held on the sidelines of the 2023 Paris Peace Forum.

The government also said it will ensure that no money goes into the hands of Hamas.

With files from CTV's Power Play host Vassy Kapelos, Senior Digital Parliamentary Reporter Rachel Aiello and CTVNews.ca Writer Michael Lee 

IN DEPTH

Opinion

opinion

opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster

A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?

opinion

opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike

When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

The British Columbia election campaign is set to officially start today, with Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin issuing the writ for the Oct. 19 vote.

A northern Ontario man is facing a $12,000 fine after illegally shooting a moose near the Batchawan River.

Unusual flippered feet are making their way into the Saint Lawrence River this weekend. Led by underwater explorer and filmmaker Nathalie Lasselin, volunteer divers are combing the riverbed near Beauharnois in Montérégie to remove hundreds of tires that have been polluting the aquatic environment for decades.

A sea lion swam free after a rescue team disentangled it near Vancouver Island earlier this week.

Local Spotlight

Cole Haas is more than just an avid fan of the F.W. Johnson Wildcats football team. He's a fixture on the sidelines, a source of encouragement, and a beloved member of the team.

Getting a photograph of a rainbow? Common. Getting a photo of a lightning strike? Rare. Getting a photo of both at the same time? Extremely rare, but it happened to a Manitoba photographer this week.

An anonymous business owner paid off the mortgage for a New Brunswick not-for-profit.

They say a dog is a man’s best friend. In the case of Darren Cropper, from Bonfield, Ont., his three-year-old Siberian husky and golden retriever mix named Bear literally saved his life.

A growing group of brides and wedding photographers from across the province say they have been taken for tens of thousands of dollars by a Barrie, Ont. wedding photographer.

Paleontologists from the Royal B.C. Museum have uncovered "a trove of extraordinary fossils" high in the mountains of northern B.C., the museum announced Thursday.

The search for a missing ancient 28-year-old chocolate donkey ended with a tragic discovery Wednesday.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is celebrating an important milestone in the organization's history: 50 years since the first women joined the force.

It's been a whirlwind of joyful events for a northern Ontario couple who just welcomed a baby into their family and won the $70 million Lotto Max jackpot last month.

Stay Connected