Ottawa: Minister of State (Foreign Affairs and Consular) Lynne Yelich, said that 47 Canadian citizens and accompanying family members assisted to leave Gaza. On July 9 the government advised Canadians to leave Gaza as the ability of Canadian officials to provide consular assistance is becoming increasingly limited.

Yelich said that Canada’s consular officials, assisted by members of Standing Rapid Deployment Team, successfully assisted 47 Canadian citizens and accompanying family members in safely travelling from Gaza to Jordan.

“As the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, Canadian consular officials in Tel Aviv, Ramallah and Amman worked to ensure that all necessary approvals for this operation were secured. The ability of Canadian officials to provide consular assistance is becoming increasingly limited,” Yelich said.

Govt. of Canada is sending regular updates to Canadians through DFATD’s Registration of Canadians Abroad service, as well as direct communications offering further assistance to those wishing to depart.

Canadians wishing to leave the Gaza Strip should contact DFATD’s Emergency Watch and Response Centre by phone, collect, at +1 613-996-8885 or by email at sos@international.gc.ca.