Canadian Immigration Minister Mark Miller announced yesterday, Thursday, that Canada will launch an immigration program starting next January that will allow residents of the Gaza Strip who have Canadian relatives to apply for a temporary visa.
The minister told reporters that the government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will grant a temporary residence permit for a period of 3 years to every person who wishes to leave the Gaza Strip and has a family relationship with a Canadian citizen, whether they are ascendants, descendants, or spouses.
“We know that many Canadians are concerned about the safety of their loved ones in Gaza, which is why we are announcing temporary immigration measures,” he added, acknowledging that at the moment “it is very difficult to get out of Gaza.”
The minister recalled that “Canada does not specify who, when, or how many people will be able to exit” through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, the only gateway linking the Palestinian Strip to the rest of the world.
In recent weeks, more than 600 Canadians and permanent residents of the country were able to leave the Gaza Strip through this crossing.
Thousands of foreigners remained stranded in Gaza for weeks after the start of the Israeli war on the besieged Strip since last October 7, due to Israel’s refusal to open the Rafah crossing for humanitarian aid and the movement of people.
The fierce Israeli war on Gaza led to widespread destruction of housing and infrastructure, the death of more than 20,000 Palestinians, and the collapse of the health system, according to official sources in the Strip.