Palestinians look for survivors following an Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023. Scores of Canadians are still hoping to leave the Gaza Strip, as Canadians and Israelis mourn the loss of dual national Vivian Silver in last month's attack by Hamas.THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Fatima Shbair
OTTAWA – Scores of Canadians are still hoping to leave the Gaza Strip, as Canadians and Israelis mourn the loss of peace activist Vivian Silver in last month’s attack by Hamas militants.
Global Affairs Canada said Monday afternoon it is in touch with more than 250 Canadians, permanent residents and their eligible family members in the war-torn Palestinian territory.
Ottawa says 356 Canadians and their relatives have made it out of the Gaza Strip so far, including 10 on Monday.
Israeli officials said late Monday that Silver, a dual national previously believed to have been taken hostage, had died in the brutal attack by Hamas that killed more than 1,200 people in Israel on Oct. 7.
Israel has declared war against Hamas, and airstrikes on Gaza have killed thousands, with the United Nations declaring that nowhere in the territory is safe.
Fighting between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants outside Gaza’s largest hospital has prompted thousands of people to flee from the sprawling medical facility.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 14, 2023.
– With files from The Associated Press
