First group of Canadians has left Gaza through Egypt, Mélanie Joly says

The first group of Canadians has left the Gaza Strip for Egypt, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly.

In a video posted on social media, Joly says the Canadians in the evacuation group were met by Canadian diplomats in Egypt.

Global Affairs Canada says there were approximately 20-25 Canadians in the first group.

“I would like to thank my Egyptian, Israeli and Qatari counterparts for making this operation successful and also I would like to thank all Canadian diplomats in Egypt and also in Ottawa who have been working night and day to make this happen,” Joly says in a video posted to X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

The first group of Canadians have left Gaza. Our team of officials has met them on the Egyptian side of the border, providing them with support and care. pic.twitter.com/Bc4CPerVew

— Mélanie Joly (@melaniejoly) November 7, 2023

Joly says she was speaking from Tokyo, where she is attending a G7 foreign ministers’ meeting expected to focus on discussion of the month-long conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Global Affairs is expecting up to 80 Canadian citizens, permanent residents and eligible family members to leave Gaza on Tuesday.

An approved evacuation list from the General Authority for Border Crossings in Gaza lists nearly 80 people connected to Canada who have been given permission to leave through the Rafah border crossing.

A group of concerned Canadians with families in Gaza gathered at the Palestinian House in Mississauga Tuesday, sharing their fears for their loved ones.

“Her name is Leanne, her father is a nurse that refuses to leave the hospital. I heard because of contaminated water, she was throwing up all night, shaking with a fever they cant control, her father is not next to her, he is in the hospital, and her mother is crying not knowing what to do with her.” said Reem Sultan.

“The emotional toll it has people watching their loved ones being killed is inexplainable, and out hearts are heavy.”

Samah Al Sabbagh’s 73-year-old father is stuck in the north of Gaza.

“He will not take the risk to travel from north to south on his own… its your responsibility, its the responsibility of my government, of just Trudeau, of Joly to ensure that my father and the many Canadians still stuck up in the north make it to the south.” said Al Sabbagh.

The group says the federal government simply is not doing enough to help their families leave and are calling on the Prime Minister for an immediate ceasefire.

– With files from The Canadian Press.