At least 8 Canadians still stranded in Gaza
Last Updated: Friday, January 9, 2009 | 7:10 AM ET
CBC News
Efforts are underway to bring to safety at least eight Canadians still trapped in the Gaza Strip.
On Thursday, dozens of Canadians who had been stranded in the troubled territory passed through the Erez crossing at the Israeli-Gaza border, arriving safely in Israel.
But Jon Allen, Canada's ambassador to Israel, said there are more Canadians, some in the southern part of the region, who were not able to make it to the gathering point.
He said officials in Ottawa had tried to call and text message others who had registered with the Canadian government but were unable to contact eight people.
"So we expect that there are more people, and depending on what the situation is, others may decide to register," Allen said.
"We're concerned about all Canadians in Gaza right now, and we urge any of them to get a hold of us to register, and any that need assistance we'll be providing as much assistance as we can."
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.
Meanwhile, Canadian Embassy officials in Amman were helping those who were evacuated from Gaza arrange travel plans on Friday.
Natalie Sarafian, spokeswoman for Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon, said Canada organized the evacuation from the area, securing clearances on behalf of 20 embassies for about 200 foreign nationals.
She said Canada and the other embassies paid for buses to transport the evacuees.
With files from the Canadian PressShare Tools
Top News Headlines
- Ottawa wins appeal to block RCMP union
- Ontario's Court of Appeal has overturned a 2009 ruling that said it was unconstitutional to prevent members of the RCMP from forming a labour association. more »
- 2,000 jobs cut as GM to close Oshawa plant
- The Canadian Auto Workers union says General Motors is going ahead with plans to close its consolidated plant in Oshawa, Ont. more »
- Diamond Jubilee: Your photos of royal encounters
- The CBC Community team asked you to submit your best photos of the Queen's visits to Canada, or visits by any member of the Royal Family. The result was tremendous! more »
- Flooding closes Toronto subway hub Union station
- The Toronto Transit Commission has closed a portion of the Yonge Street subway line because of what it says is severe flooding at Union station. more »
Latest World News Headlines
- Gaza border clash kills Palestinian militant, Israeli soldier
- A Palestinian militant infiltrated into Israel and set off a shootout that left the infiltrator and one Israeli soldier dead, the military says. more »
- Mistrial declared in John Edwards case
- The campaign fraud trial of disgraced former U.S. senator John Edwards ended on Thursday with an acquittal on one of six counts and a mistrial declared on the remaining charges. more »
- Diamond Jubilee: Your photos of royal encounters
- The CBC Community team asked you to submit your best photos of the Queen's visits to Canada, or visits by any member of the Royal Family. The result was tremendous! more »
- How manhunts work
- A nation-wide manhunt, like the one being undertaken to find suspected killer Luka Rocco Magnotta, is a highly co-ordinated exercise that isn't quite as gritty or dramatic as it may seem in TV police shows. more »
Dispatches »
- Child "bomberitos" on Peru's most dangerous highway May. 31, 2012 3:34 PM The bomberito children of the Andes hitch homemade carts to passing transport trucks -- to aid motorists and victims of disasters in mountains that were once the domain of Peru's Shining Path rebels. They risk their lives for tips that help feed their families.
Connect Newsroom Blog
The Hunt for Magnotta and #bullyPROOF May. 31, 2012 7:32 PM Tonight we'll take you deep inside the dark recesses of the internet for a closer look what's being posted and who watching it.
- Body-parts victim ID'd as Chinese student in Montreal
- Edmonton teacher suspended for giving 0s
- Owner defends 'gore' site connected to Luka Magnotta
- New duty-free limits will challenge Canadian retailers
- Quebec student talks collapse and more protests loom
- Tree faller plunges to death as bucket breaks
- Bear pulls corpse from car near Kamloops
- Copyright board to charge for music at weddings, parades
- Last chance to see Venus transit across sun

