179 Palestinians Escape Gaza, Arrive in Canada via Special Visa Program

In a remarkable turn of events, 179 Palestinians have managed to escape the war-torn Gaza Strip and been approved to come to Canada under a special immigration program set up in January by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The program was established to allow Palestinians in Gaza to join family members already in Canada.

This story highlights the desperate situation in Gaza and the need for humanitarian efforts to provide a safe passage for those seeking to reunite with their families. The success of this program could set a precedent for similar initiatives in other conflict zones, providing a glimmer of hope for those affected by war and displacement.

Some of these Palestinians have already arrived on Canadian soil, but only after crossing the border from Gaza to Egypt on their own, often by paying hefty bribes or fees. According to Yameena Ansari, a lawyer working with the Gaza Family Reunification Project, "If you are rich you get to live and if you are not you don't." She notes that Palestinians have paid up to US$5,000 to an Egyptian company to facilitate their exit from Gaza into Egypt.

The Canadian government has submitted a list of names for approval to the Israeli authorities to allow 1,000 Palestinians who have applied under the program to exit Gaza. However, they have not yet been granted permission. "As far as we know, every Gazan that has crossed into Egypt has done it themselves – not with the support of the Canadian government," said Ansari. "It's a sad day when folks have more trust in human traffickers than the Canadian government to help them with a legal border crossing."

Jeffrey MacDonald, an IRCC spokesman, stated that "IRCC empathized with the plight of Palestinians in Gaza and is reaching out to local authorities at all levels to advocate for the approval of names put forward by the Government of Canada for crossing." However, he acknowledged that "Movement out of Gaza remains limited and unpredictable. We have put forward names of people who passed preliminary eligibility and admissibility reviews to local authorities for approval, however, Canada does not control who or when someone can exit Gaza."

Why this matters: The Gaza Strip has been subject to intense Israeli bombardment for months, resulting in the deaths of over 34,000 Palestinians, according to estimates by the Hamas-run Health Ministry. Palestinians need to reach Cairo for biometric checks before they are eligible to come to Canada under the special visa program. The Canadian government has no records of how many Palestinians have arrived so far, as they boarded commercial flights.

The special immigration program, while providing a lifeline for some Palestinians to escape the dire situation in Gaza and reunite with family in Canada, has faced criticism for favoring those who can afford to pay large sums to cross the border, while leaving behind those without the financial means. As the crisis in Gaza continues, the fate of many Palestinians seeking a path to safety and family reunification in Canada remains uncertain.

Key Takeaways

• 179 Palestinians have escaped Gaza and been approved to come to Canada under a special immigration program.
• Many Palestinians paid up to $5,000 to exit Gaza into Egypt, highlighting the desperate situation.
• Canada has submitted a list of 1,000 names for approval to Israeli authorities, but permission has not been granted.
• The program has been criticized for favouring those who can afford to pay large sums to cross the border.
• The fate of many Palestinians seeking a path to safety and family reunification in Canada remains uncertain.