Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced on Monday a special visa scheme for Palestinians with relatives in Canada.
Jerrymusa.com reports that the program is a preparatory measure in case they can leave in the future. This figure is an increase from the 1,000 temporary resident visas announced in December, with many people expressing interest.
Miller stated that while leaving Gaza is currently impossible, the situation may change, and Canada will be ready to help more people as it evolves. The minister noted that leaving Gaza is extremely difficult and dependent on Israeli approval.
Canada’s Preliminary Screening
Canada has been sharing names of Gaza residents who passed preliminary screening with local authorities to secure their exit, with Israel and Egypt crucial to reuniting families in Canada.
So far, 448 Gazans have been issued temporary visas, with 41 arriving in Canada. The temporary visas are valid for three years after entering Canada.
The conflict in Gaza began after Hamas’s October 7 attack, leading to an ongoing Israeli operation aiming to destroy Hamas’s military and governance capabilities and rescue hostages.
The conflict has resulted in significant loss of life and displacement, with estimates suggesting over 35,000 people killed or presumed dead and 1.7 million displaced, according to the UN Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA.