Blair told reporters in Ottawa on Friday there is ‘no specific impediment’ to their leaving but offered no firm timeline
Canadians remained off the list of approved foreign citizens to exit the Gaza Strip as Canada's minister of foreign affairs reconfirmed that Canadians and their families will be able to leave in the coming days. Palestinians wait to cross into Egypt at Rafah, Gaza Strip, on Nov. 1.Canadians could be allowed to leave the Gaza Strip in “the coming days,” Defence Minister Bill Blair said Friday, but shared no firm timeline as Canadians faced another day of being left off the list.
There are more than 450 Canadian citizens, permanent residents and their family members who want to leave Gaza, which has been under siege and regular bombardment by Israel for more than three weeks. Jon Allen, a former Canadian ambassador to Israel, said the effort is “very complicated,” but he wasn’t sure if countries with the most citizens would end up being among the first or last to leave.
He also said the United States has an outsized influence in the region and many would expect American citizens to be among the first to be able to leave, but other countries would likely not have much ability to get ahead of others. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday, calling once again for a humanitarian pause. Netanyahu says that will not happen until Hamas releases the hostages taken during surprise attacks on Israeli civilians on Oct. 7.
Joly’s message also noted that Global Affairs Canada would communicate the latest information directly with Canadians.
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Canadians still not cleared to leave Gaza, Blair says movement likely in coming daysOTTAWA — Defence Minister Bill Blair says he thinks Canadians will be allowed to leave the Gaza Strip in 'the coming days,' but shared no specific timeline this morning as Canadians faced another day of being left off the list.
Read more »
Canadians still not cleared to leave Gaza, Blair says movement likely in coming daysOTTAWA — Defence Minister Bill Blair says he thinks Canadians will be allowed to leave the Gaza Strip in 'the coming days,' but shared no specific timeline this morning as Canadians faced another day of being left off the list.
Read more »
Canadians still not cleared to leave Gaza, Blair says movement likely in coming daysOTTAWA — Defence Minister Bill Blair says he thinks Canadians will be allowed to leave the Gaza Strip in 'the coming days,' but shared no specific timeline this morning as Canadians faced another day of being left off the list.
Read more »
Canadians still not cleared to leave Gaza, Blair says movement likely in coming daysOTTAWA — Defence Minister Bill Blair says he thinks Canadians will be allowed to leave the Gaza Strip in 'the coming days,' but shared no specific timeline this morning as Canadians faced another day of being left off the list.
Read more »
Canadians still not cleared to leave Gaza, Blair says movement likely in coming daysOTTAWA — Defence Minister Bill Blair says he thinks Canadians will be allowed to leave the Gaza Strip in 'the coming days,' but shared no specific timeline this morning as Canadians faced another day of being left off the list.
Read more »