Canada announced on Monday its intention to issue temporary visas to five thousand residents of the Gaza Strip under a special program for relatives of Canadians, in a preemptive move should they be able to leave in the future.
The Ministry of Immigration stated in a press release that this rate represents an increase from about one thousand temporary residence visas announced for Gaza under a special program in December, with many expressing interest.
Minister of Immigration Marc Miller remarked that while leaving Gaza is currently impossible, the situation may change at any time, adding that with the increased quota, Canada will be ready to assist more people as the situation evolves, according to Miller.
The minister had previously stated that leaving Gaza is extremely difficult and depends on Israel’s approval.
Officials announced on Monday that an Israeli airstrike caused a massive fire that killed 45 people in a camp in Rafah city in the Gaza Strip, sparking global condemnation.
Miller explained that Canada is coordinating with local authorities to identify Gaza residents who have passed initial screening in efforts to facilitate their departure.
The minister emphasized the importance of Israel and Egypt to the program’s efforts to reunite families in Canada.
A spokesperson for Miller stated that some Gaza residents have arrived in Canada under the program, without providing precise statistics.
Nearly 36,000 Palestinians were killed in the Israeli attack on Gaza, according to the health ministry in the region, while about 1.7 million people, over 75 percent of Gaza’s population, were displaced, according to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
Israel launched its military campaign after militants led by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) attacked towns in southern Israel on October 7th, resulting in the deaths of around 1,200 people and the holding of over 250 hostages, according to Israeli statistics.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office has not yet responded to requests for comment on the Rafah airstrike.
