TRENTON, Canada: Immigration Minister of Canada Marc Miller on Wednesday expressed immense frustration over the diplomatic problems faced by Canadian citizens from leaving the war hit Gaza Strip.
He said the diplomatic hitch with Israel and Egypt that blocks Canadians from leaving the Gaza Strip is frustrating.
Talking to reporters at Parliament Hill, Miller said a list of 1,000 names of those pre-approved to come to Canada was handed over to Egypt and Israel who control the only border crossing but there is no movement on letting the Canadians leave.
“Perhaps there is some trepidation by people on the ground as to whether to let these folks out, but it’s a humanitarian gesture and it’s immensely frustrating for me,” he said.
Marc Miller frustrated that Canadian families are stuck in Gaza | CTV News https://t.co/slKJoNMYKp
— Marc Miller ᐅᑭᒫᐃᐧᐅᓃᐸᐄᐧᐤᐃᔨᐣ (@MarcMillerVM) February 7, 2024
The government of Canada said 1,000 Palestinians who had sponsoring families would be allowed to temporarily arrive in the north American state.
Pro-Palestinian and Muslim organizations said the number must be increased. Miller said there is no use in doing so as there is no movement by Israel and Egypt to let people leave Gaza.
Miller said he doesn’t want to create a system that’s entertaining false hope. He added it is really frustrating, and obviously it’s a matter of life and death for the Canadian families in stranded in Gaza.
The minister said he is considering other diplomatic solutions and wants to investigate them before making any public statement.
According to the Gaza’s health ministry at least 27,585 Palestinians have been killed, with thousands buried under rubble. There has been only one ceasefire so far, lasting just a week at the end of November.
According to the UN, the Israeli bombardment has left 85 percent of Gaza’s population internally displaced amid acute shortages of food, medicine, and clean water while 60 percent of the Gaza’s infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed.
