Government of Canada helping Canadians affected by crisis in Israel, West Bank and Gaza Strip
The Voice of Canada News:
The situation in Israel and the West Bank and the Gaza Strip remains volatile and is deteriorating rapidly. Canada’s missions in the region are actively monitoring the situation and working with partners and like-minded governments, as well as with the international community, to address the situation.
Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs; the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence; the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship; and the Honourable Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Transport provided an update on giving assistance to Canadians in Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, including assisted departures.
The safety and security of Canadians abroad is Canada’s top priority. Canada is actively working on starting assisted departures of Canadians, permanent residents and their eligible family members from Tel Aviv to Athens with the support of Canadian Armed Forces aircraft, then onward to Canada with the support of Air Canada flights. Canadian officials are also working on additional options for those who cannot reach the airport in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Canada is deploying members of Global Affairs Canada’s Standing Rapid Deployment Team (SRDT) to the region to increase its ability to support our missions and to further assess needs on the ground.
The SRDT has highly trained employees on standby and ready to deploy on short notice to assist the Government of Canada when responding to emergencies. Team members provide emergency response, coordination, consular assistance and logistical support.
Consular services continue to be available to Canadians in Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Officials in Ottawa are also in regular contact with affected Canadians, providing them with information and advice as the situation develops. Further, officials at Canadian missions in nearby countries are actively supporting the response to the crisis.
Canadians who wish to leave or who need emergency consular assistance should contact the Embassy of Canada to Israel in Tel Aviv at 972 (3) 636-3300, the Representative Office of Canada in Ramallah, West Bank, at 972 (2) 297-8430 or Global Affairs Canada’s Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa:
- telephone: +1 613-996-8885 (collect calls are accepted where available)
- email: sos@international.gc.ca
- SMS: +1 613-686-3658
- WhatsApp: +1 613-909-8881
- signal: +1 613-909-8087
- telegram: Canada Emergency Abroad
Canadians who wish to leave should also sign up with the Government of Canada’s Registration of Canadians Abroad service, so Global Affairs Canada officials can provide them with direct updates and share crucial information about available assistance.
Canada urges all affected Canadians to check the Travel Advice and Advisories for Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip as often as possible for updates.
Quotes
“We are actively working to help Canadians at this time. We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of civilian lives in Israel and the Gaza Strip, including children, and unequivocally condemn the brutal terrorist attacks perpetrated by Hamas against Israel.”–Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs
“The Canadian Armed Forces is ready to contribute to the safe return of Canadians who have been impacted as the result of the war in Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. We strongly condemn the brutal terrorist attacks committed by Hamas against Israel and fully support Israel’s right to defend itself.”– Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence
“The safety of Canadians is our top priority. We are focused on ensuring Citizens and Permanent Residents, as well as their families are on Canadian soil. This is an incredibly painful time, but we remain completely committed to keeping families out of harm’s way and together. – The Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
“The safety of Canadians is our top priority. We are working to get Canadians in Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip back home as soon as possible.”–Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Transport
Quick facts
- Eligible family members are those of Canadian citizens or Canadian permanent residents who meet the definition included within the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations Specifically, this refers to the spouse or common-law partner of the person, a dependent child of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident or of their spouse or common-law partner, or a dependent child of a dependent child.
