On Wednesday, Canadian officials provided an update on their plans to evacuate Canadians from Israel, saying that airlifting will begin by the end of the week.
Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly shared that Canadian citizens and permanent residents, as well as their spouses and children, will be airlifted by the Canadian Armed Forces from the airport in Tel Aviv to Athens, Greece. From there they will be able to board Air Canada flights home.
Those Canadians looking for assistance returning home are being asked to register with Global Affairs Canada, which will provide them with information on how to leave.
Officials say that as of Tuesday there were 4,249 Canadians registered in Israel, as well as around 500 people in the West Bank and Gaza. Officials say they are working on a way to help Canadians who are unable to reach Tel Aviv out of Gaza and the West Bank.
“Should the United Nations work on an evacuation we would be working with them. We’ve done so in the past, but at this point there has been no information coming from the UN regarding evacuation,” Joly said in regards to evacuations from Gaza.
“As for the West Bank per say, we are looking at options through Jordan,” Joly said, adding that she has been in contact with officials in the country.
Joly added that Canadians who choose not to leave at this time should keep in mind that this offer of government assistance will not last forever.
At least three Canadians have been killed in Israel, according to the Canadian Press. There are also an additional three Canadians missing, the government says.
Joly would not confirm if there were any Canadians being held hostage, saying she did not want to “increase the value and put their lives in danger.” However, she did confirm that Canada will be sending a team overseas to help with hostage negotiations.
At least 2,300 people have been killed so far in a conflict that started after Hamas began attacks in Israel on Saturday, the Canadian Press reports.
