Federal Government to Airlift Canadians Out of Israel: Joly

Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly says the Canadian government will airlift Canadians in Israel out of the region starting on Friday.

Two Canadians are confirmed dead, an additional death is presumed, and three more are missing in the region. Joly will not confirm whether any Canadians are among those kidnapped and being held by Hamas.

The federal minister addressed reporters in Ottawa this morning, indicating that more than 4,000 Canadians are registered as living in Israel and another close to 500 people are in the West Bank and Gaza.

Joly is encouraging any Canadians who want to leave Israel to register with Global Affairs Canada.

Assisted departures from Tel Aviv, involving aircraft from the Canadian Armed Forces will bring Canadians, their spouses and children and Canadian permanent residents, including those with dual citizenship, to Athens. From there, Air Canada will carry those Canadians back to Canada.

Meanwhile, Joly addressed the residents of Gaza and what they are dealing with as Israel retaliates against Hamas.

She acknowledges the humanitarian situation in Gaza was dire before this weekend, and it’s only going to get worse. She urged all parties to respect international humanitarian law and to provide humanitarian access to Gaza.