Canadians Leave Gaza for Safety
Source: CBC News
Posted: 01/08/09 8:55AM
Filed Under: World
Dozens of Canadians who had been stranded in the Gaza Strip have been taken to safety after spending several days trapped in the troubled region.
Israel-Gaza Conflict (Warning: Graphic) |
Palestinian Kawsar Abed Rabbo plays with her son Mohammed in the rubble of her home in the devastated area of east Jebaliya, Monday, Jan. 26, 2009. Two of Abed Rabbo's daughters were killed in the recent Israeli military offensive and another is in critical condition being treated in Belgium. The latest Israeli incursion into Gaza was aimed at the territory's Hamas rulers, and ended Jan. 17 with nearly 1,300 Palestinians dead. |
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The Canadians passed through the Erez Crossing at the Israeli/Gaza border on Thursday, arriving safely in Israel, the CBC's Peter Armstrong reported from the border.
Marwan Diab, of Calgary, who was visiting Gaza City with his wife and four children, told CBC News that 48 Canadians were on the bus that was driven to a point near the Erez terminal.
"Of course when you are near the border, it's always a security concern," he said. "But this time we did not have any concerns because there was no problem. It was arranged well by the Canadian officials at the Canadian Embassy."
Earlier this week, a busload of foreign nationals, including 18 Canadians, tried to cross the border. The group came within a kilometre of the border but had to turn back after it was deemed too dangerous to cross.
Diab said Canadian officials had been in contact with his family over the past few days.
"They have been very helpful phoning us and telling us exactly what's happening, when we'll be leaving."
There had been some criticism of the Canadian government for not acting quickly enough to get Canadians out of the area.
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Israeli officials had said that they didn’t get a request from the Canadian government to get its foreign nationals out until Saturday, the day the ground offensive into the Gaza Strip began.
Diab said his family will now travel to Jordan and fly out to Calgary as soon as possible.
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