Canada to end evacuation flights from Israel starting Monday

(Ottawa) Canada will soon end evacuation flights from Israel, citing falling demand and growing supply of trade options as a number of Canadians have been able to leave the country since the start of the war between Hamas and Israel two weeks ago.

This was indicated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, in a press release while she was at the Cairo Peace Summit this weekend in Egypt.

“Therefore, the last scheduled assisted flight from Tel Aviv will take place on Monday, October 23. Canadian Armed Forces aircraft will remain in the region, ready to intervene quickly if conditions change and the demand for assisted departures increases,” said the minister.

As of Saturday evening, there were 1,600 Canadian nationals who were evacuated aboard 17 assisted flights departing from Tel Aviv in nine days, the minister said.

“We will continue to help eligible Canadians, permanent residents and their family members leave the West Bank by land. To date, we have successfully facilitated 33 departures and we are planning other transfers in the days to come,” said Mélanie Joly.

In the meantime, Global Affairs Canada continues to make contact, where possible, with Canadians still stuck in Gaza and possible exit options at the Rafah border crossing on the border with Egypt.

“My message to Canadians in Israel is clear: if you want to leave Israel for security reasons, now is the time to do so. If you would like us to help you do this, you must contact Global Affairs Canada so that we can provide you with a seat on one of the remaining flights,” said Minister Joly.

She also underlines that “the situation in Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip remains unstable and is deteriorating rapidly”, while discussions with the international community continue to address the situation.