Palestinians look for survivors under the rubble of a destroyed house following an Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis refugee camp, southern Gaza Strip, Monday, Nov. 13, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Mohammed Dahman
OTTAWA – Two more people with ties to Canada left the Gaza Strip for Egypt today, as hundreds seek to flee a worsening humanitarian situation in the besieged Palestinian territory.
Global Affairs Canada says it has helped 358 Canadian citizens, permanent residents and their relatives exit the war-torn territory, while another nine have managed to get out through other means.
Ottawa says another 386 people connected to Canada are trying to get out of Gaza.
They are fleeing the war that started on Oct. 7 when Hamas militants stormed into Israel, killing an estimated 1,200 people and taking roughly 240 others back into Gaza as hostages.
Israel has since retaliated with airstrikes and a ground offensive in Gaza, and the Hamas-run health authority says casualties in the territory have topped 11,200.
Canada says it has no control over who can exit the territory or when.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 15, 2023.
