On Tuesday, Canadian citizens began evacuating the conflict-ridden Gaza Strip.
Over 400 individuals had sought assistance from Canada to depart the area.
This marks the first instance of Canadians being included in the exit lists issued by Gaza’s border officials since the opening of the Rafah crossing with Egypt last week.
The Canadian foreign ministry has pledged support for these citizens, facilitating their journey to Cairo and onward to Canada.
Melanie Joly, the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, announced on social media that a group of Canadians had been successfully evacuated from Gaza, greeted by Canadian diplomats upon reaching the Egyptian side of the border. Joly described the evacuation as a welcome development during challenging times.
Joly also mentioned that efforts are ongoing to evacuate the remaining Canadian nationals, highlighting it as a top priority.
There had been a tense wait for Canadians at the Rafah crossing since its opening, with no Canadian approvals initially. This changed on Tuesday when 80 Canadians were authorized to leave for Egypt.
The Canadian foreign ministry had previously warned of a volatile and unpredictable situation, advising preparedness for potential delays.
The crossing lists are determined by Egypt and Israel, with embassies notified in advance to ready themselves for citizen reception.
