Foreign Affairs in Israel May Have Been On Holiday Break Even As War Broke Out
While the Canadian government has expressed its commitment to the safety and security of its citizens in Israel, at least one citizen has reported that he has not been able to get help because the foreign affairs office took the weekend as well as Monday off for the Thanksgiving holiday.
Robbie Segall, a 22-year-old Canadian in Israel for an internship, expressed frustration and shared that the Canadian government has left him unable to receive assistance until after the holiday. Despite feeling relatively safe, he emphasized the lack of support in case of an emergency.
On Saturday, Hamas launched a surprise attack that killed hundreds of Israelis. They also took between 100 to 150 civilians and Israeli army officers as hostages.
Without addressing Segall’s case, Global Affairs Canada clarified that their missions in Tel Aviv and Ramallah were operational over the weekend and would continue to be so unless security conditions deteriorate. Canadian officials have been working tirelessly to assist Canadians during this crisis.
Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly has engaged in discussions with counterparts from Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Jordan, and Egypt to address the ongoing conflict and explore ways in which Canada can help restore calm in the region.
There are over 1,400 registered Canadians in Israel and 492 in the Palestinian territories. Joly updated on the status on Monday.
“We’ve received reports of one Canadian dead and also three missing, so that’s information I can provide you at this point,” Joly said. “And of course, my thoughts and my heart is with those who are affected by this multi-front terrorist attack against the Israeli people.”
The casualty has been identified as Alexandre Look, a 33-year-old man from Montreal. He was at the outdoor techno music festival near the Gaza-Israel border on Saturday when the militant group launched its attack. 260 bodies were recovered from ambush at the music festival grounds.
According to Israeli media, at least 900 people have been killed in Israel, with at least 2,600 injured. Israel responded by launching air strikes in Gaza, killing at least 687 Palestinians and wounding 3,726 more.
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