Canada pronounces five-fold enhance in visas for Palestinians in Gaza | Israel-Palestine battle Information

Immigration Minister Marc Miller says 5,000 visas might be supplied to Palestinians searching for to hitch household in Canada.

Canada has introduced a five-fold enhance in visas for Palestinians searching for to hitch their relations within the nation.

Minister of Immigration Marc Miller mentioned on Monday that Ottawa would increase to five,000 the variety of visas supplied to residents in Gaza beneath a particular programme introduced in December.

“We stay deeply involved concerning the humanitarian tragedy unfolding in Gaza. Many individuals are frightened about their family members and have expressed vital curiosity within the non permanent particular measures we launched for his or her prolonged household in Gaza,” Miller mentioned in a press release.

Miller mentioned the federal government is working to help Palestinians attempting to depart Gaza, however that motion out of the territory is presently not potential resulting from components exterior Ottawa’s management.

Gaza residents who want to be a part of household Canada should acquire approval from Israeli authorities to depart the territory, earlier than present process biometric screening in Egypt.

Israel’s army earlier this month seized management of the Gaza facet of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt as a part of its offensive within the southern metropolis.

“Whereas motion out of Gaza just isn’t presently potential, the state of affairs could change at any time. With this cover enhance, we might be prepared to assist extra individuals because the state of affairs evolves. Our focus stays on retaining households collectively,” Miller mentioned.

“Canada continues to place ahead the names of those that have handed preliminary screening to native authorities to safe their exit from Gaza. Israel and Egypt are each essential companions in implementing these non permanent, humanitarian measures and serving to individuals reunite with their household in Canada.”

The announcement got here as Canadian Minister of Overseas Affairs Melanie Joly joined a refrain of worldwide condemnation following a lethal Israeli air strike on a camp for displaced Palestinians in Rafah.

“This stage of human struggling should come to an finish. We demand a direct ceasefire,” Joly mentioned in a press release.

At the least 45 individuals, together with 23 girls, kids and aged, had been killed and 249 others wounded within the assault on the tent camp, in accordance with Gaza’s Ministry of Well being.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has mentioned the civilian deaths had been a “tragic mistake” and the incident is being investigated.