Rafah border crossing still closed, no information on when Canadians can leave: Global Affairs Canada
CTV
Despite its earlier suggestion that Canadian citizens might be able to start leaving Gaza on Sunday, Global Affairs has confirmed that the Rafah crossing into Egypt is still shuttered—and it's uncertain when that will change.
Despite its earlier suggestion that Canadian citizens might be able to start leaving Gaza on Sunday, Global Affairs has confirmed that the Rafah crossing into Egypt is still shuttered—and it's uncertain when that will change.
“We do not have information at this time of its re-opening,” the agency stated in a Sunday afternoon update.
Canada’s Ambassador to Egypt Louis Dumas told CTV’s Question Period host Vassy Kapelos in an interview Sunday, "We were hopeful it would open today but it still has not opened."
The Rafah border between Gaza and Egypt has been closed for a second consecutive day after a breakdown in negotiations to keep it open to let foreign nationals out. Dumas said Egypt has dispatched its minister of health and the governor of North Sinai to the Rafah crossing in hopes of pushing negotiations forward to allow civilians to pass through.
"Up to now, you know, there hasn't been a resolution of the matter," Dumas said.
A Canadian whose father is in Gaza told The Canadian Press she received an email from Global Affairs Canada on Saturday saying evacuations for Canadian citizens, permanent residents and family members is tentatively set to start Monday.
Global Affairs had previously told Canadians that they may have been able to leave the war-torn Gaza Strip “as early as Sunday".
