Palestinian Canadians Call on Ottawa to Evacuate Families from Gaza Amid Ongoing Conflict
In light of growing tensions and conflict in Gaza, Palestinian Canadians are urging Ottawa to expedite the evacuation of their families trapped in the region. This plea has been largely driven by the bureaucratic impediments marring the special visa process, leading to a backlog of thousands of applications and delayed family reunions.
The Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
Omar, founder of the online community Gazan Canadians, has paid $120,000 out of his pocket to facilitate the evacuation of some of his family members from Gaza into Egypt. This payment was described as a bribe
to an Egyptian travel company, a scandal that surfaced last year. Despite his efforts, Omar has only managed to bring one of his seven sisters to Canada, with the rest of his family still trapped amid the escalating conflict.
Such stories are not unique among Palestinian Canadians, who are desperately seeking to ensure the safety of their loved ones. The worsening situation is further complicated by the ongoing hostage crisis in Gaza, with the armed wing of Hamas recently releasing a video showing one of the several dozen captives, Alon Ohel.
Hostage Crisis and International Pressure
Hamas' armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, recently released a video showing Alon Ohel, an Israeli-German hostage captured during an October 2023 attack on Israel. The video, shared by multiple international media outlets including RT and South China Morning Post, shows Ohel criticizing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and appealing to his family and US Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, to help pressure the Israeli government.
This comes amidst the backdrop of Israel's continued military campaign in Gaza, targeting Hamas negotiators in Qatar and pushing forward into Gaza City. The Times of Israel reported that Hamas has proposed a 60-day truce in exchange for freeing half of the hostages. However, there has been no reported response from the US or Israeli governments.
The Call for Action
Two successive Liberal governments in Canada have been accused of blundering the special visa process, leading to a backlog of thousands of applications. This bureaucratic delay has been dubbed as a form of 'bureaucratic genocide' by some. The situation has prompted Palestinian Canadians to raise their voices on Parliament Hill, urging the Canadian government to expedite the process and ensure the safety of their families.
The current crisis in Gaza, both in terms of the ongoing conflict and the hostage situation, has sent shockwaves around the world, eliciting international concern and calls for action. As the situation continues to evolve, the primary concern for many remains the safety and well-being of those caught in the crossfire.