In a message sent to Western embassies, the Israeli Foreign Ministry indicates that the plan to allow foreign nationals to leave the Gaza Strip through a crossing point to Egypt was canceled on Saturday.
However, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, Mélanie Joly, announced the same day that she had obtained authorization from the Israeli government so that Canadian civilians currently in Gaza could leave the territory.
A Global Affairs Canada official said Friday that Canadians in Gaza may be able to use the crossing point to leave the territory for a short period on Saturday.
However, Julie Sunday, Canada’s top consular official, warned there was no guarantee the plan would come to fruition.
The message from the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, consulted by The Canadian Press, indicates that “the passage planned for today […] is canceled “.
The message also advised people to stay away from the area and wait for further information.
Violence in Rafah
“The latest information available to me indicates that there was violence around the Rafah border crossing, and that the operation therefore had to be canceled,” said Minister Joly, during a virtual press briefing, Saturday afternoon. She said she was trying to get more information on the situation, and would speak with her Egyptian counterpart later today.
“I have received authorization from the Israeli government that Canadian civilians who are currently in Gaza can leave,” however, indicated the minister, speaking from Amman, Jordan. Mme Joly did not indicate when these people would be able to be evacuated.
Authorities announced Friday that 150 people with a connection to Canada, including Canadian citizens, family members living abroad and possibly permanent residents, were in the Gaza Strip.
Minister Joly also said she met with a UN official responsible for humanitarian aid in Gaza to discuss how to set up a humanitarian corridor to help civilians in the territory.
Tuesday evacuation from the West Bank
However, an agreement reached with Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian authorities will allow Canadians to leave the West Bank by bus. “We think that we will be able to start this operation on Tuesday,” said the minister.
Mme Joly also provided an update on her diplomatic trip, during which she visited Israel to “see the human impact” of Hamas’ attack on the country.
“Since there were bombings in Tel Aviv, we had to take shelter, our team and I,” said the minister.
She said five Canadian Armed Forces planes have so far left Tel Aviv for Athens, Greece, and a sixth plane was in flight at the time of the press conference Saturday afternoon.