20.41°C Vancouver

Nov 17, 2023 6:48 PM - The Canadian Press

The wait continues for Canadians wanting out of Gaza, approval list not yet updated

Share On
the-wait-continues-for-canadians-wanting-out-of-gaza-approval-list-not-yet-updated
Global Affairs Canada says, so far, 367 Canadians, permanent residents and their relatives have been able to escape via the Rafah border crossing, most recently including two people on Wednesday and 10 on Monday. (Photo: The Canadian Press)

Canadians in the Gaza Strip, eager to escape the bloody conflict between Israel and Hamas, may have to wait a little longer to leave.

As of 4 a.m. Eastern, the General Authority for Crossings and Borders had yet to update its daily list of approved foreign passport holders authorized to exit Gaza and enter Egypt.

The Canadian government says that as of Wednesday afternoon, it was in touch with 386 people still in the besieged territory.

Global Affairs Canada says, so far, 367 Canadians, permanent residents and their relatives have been able to escape via the Rafah border crossing, most recently including two people on Wednesday and 10 on Monday.

The current conflict began on Oct. 7 when Hamas militants killed 1,200 Israelis in brutal surprise attacks, taking another 240 people hostage.

Israel declared war on Hamas, began an airstrike campaign and cut off food, fuel, water and supplies to Gaza, which is home to 2.3 million Palestinians. The territory's health officials say more than 11,470 people have been killed, two-thirds of them women and children, and another 2,700 people are reported missing.

Latest news

saskatchewan-man-sentenced-in-cbsa-immigration-fraud-investigation
BCJul 10, 2026

Saskatchewan man sentenced in CBSA immigration fraud investigation

A Saskatchewan man has been sentenced to a conditional sentence of two years less a day after a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) investigation into an immigration fraud scheme. According to a CBSA news release issued Friday, Balvir Singh was also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine. The agency said the investigation began in 2018 after border services officers across Canada noticed an unusually high number of immigration applications connected to a Saskatoon-based non-profit organization. The CBSA, working with the Government of Saskatchewan, said investigators identified foreign nationals who e
CanadaJul 10, 2026

West Vancouver's Gurinder Singh Deo arrested in France

West Vancouver resident Gurinder Singh Deo has been arrested in France, the RCMP's Pacific Region Federal Policing confirmed. Police said the 40-year-old is currently in custody in France while legal proceedings are underway to extradite him to the United States. According to the RCMP, Deo was identified in the recent joint FBI and RCMP investigation known as Operation Hard Ball. U.S. authorities have charged him in connection with a drug trafficking case, alleging he helped facilitate the movement of narcotics into Southern California through alleged links to the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang. U.S.
CanadaJul 10, 2026

Charges withdrawn against Ontario man in Canada's largest gold theft case

Criminal charges against an Ontario man accused in connection with what investigators have described as Canada's largest gold theft have been withdrawn. The Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General confirmed that charges against 46-year-old Ammad Chaudhry were withdrawn in a Brampton court. Chaudhry had been arrested in 2024 and charged with theft over $5,000 and accessory after the fact. The ministry did not provide a reason for the withdrawal of the charges. According to investigators, the case stems from the April 17, 2023 theft of approximately $20 million worth of gold from an Air Canada
BCJul 10, 2026

B.C. adds 7,800 jobs in June as unemployment rate falls to 6.5%

British Columbia's labour market added 7,800 jobs in June, while the province's unemployment rate fell by 0.3 percentage points to 6.5 per cent, according to Statistics Canada's Labour Force Survey released Friday. Statistics Canada reported that the health care sector led job growth with 8,500 new positions, followed by transportation and warehousing, which added approximately 7,300 jobs. At the same time, the accommodation and food services sector lost about 9,000 jobs, while professional, scientific and technical services shed 3,100 positions. The report also showed gains in both full-time
CanadaJul 10, 2026

Canadian Punjabi man sentenced to 20 years in U.S. for leading cross-border drug trafficking operation

A Canadian man of Punjabi origin has been sentenced to 20 years in a U.S. federal prison after admitting to leading an international drug trafficking organization that smuggled large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine from the United States into Canada. According to U.S. court documents, 63-year-old Guramrit Sidhu pleaded guilty on March 26, 2026, to charges related to his role in the trafficking operation. He had been in U.S. custody since October 2024. Prosecutors said Sidhu led the criminal organization between September 2020 and February 2023. Investigators determined that between S

Related News