Canada increases visas for Palestinians as Israel unleashes fresh brutality

TORONTO – The Canadian government has announced plans to increase the number of visas available to Palestinians seeking to reunite with their families in the country.

Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship of Canada, Marc Miller, confirmed on Monday that the country would expand the quota of visas allocated to residents in Gaza to 5,000 under a special program unveiled in December.

“We remain deeply concerned about the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza. Many individuals are anxious about the well-being of their loved ones and have expressed significant interest in the temporary special measures we introduced for their extended family in Gaza,” Miller stated in a statement after a five-fold increase in the number of visas.

The minister emphasized the government’s commitment to aiding Palestinians attempting to leave Gaza, although current restrictions render movement out of the territory impossible.

Despite the increase in visa numbers, challenges prevail for Gaza residents, who must obtain approval from Israeli authorities to exit the territory before undergoing biometric screening in Egypt.

“While movement out of Gaza is presently restricted, the situation may change at any time. With this augmentation in the visa cap, we stand prepared to assist more individuals as circumstances evolve. Our priority remains keeping families united,” Miller assured.

He further underscored Canada’s collaboration with local authorities to facilitate the departure of eligible individuals from Gaza, acknowledging Israel and Egypt as crucial partners in implementing humanitarian measures and facilitating family reunification in Canada.

Regarding recent bombing incidents in Rafah, Canada’s Foreign Minister Melanie Joly condemned the strikes that claimed the lives of Palestinian civilians, expressing opposition to Israeli military actions in the region.

“This level of human suffering must cease immediately. We call for an urgent ceasefire,” Minister Joly urged.

It bears mentioning that the government of Canada had announced 1, 000 visas for the Palestinians trapped in the country; however, the figure raised concerns and the authorities faced severe backlash.

An official government statement released in December outlined the introduction of special measures to support temporary residency for extended family members in Gaza linked to Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

The announcement included provisions for three-year temporary resident visas and outlined eligible family members, including spouses, children, siblings, parents, and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents, along with their immediate family members.

The government had also committed to prioritizing the processing of existing and new permanent residence applications for Palestinians within family-based streams.