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Unclear when Canadians still in Gaza Strip can cross into Egypt

376 Canadians, permanent residents and relatives have been able to leave the Palestinian territory
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Palestinians look for survivors after an Israeli strike on Rafah, Gaza Strip, Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Hatem Ali)

Canadians still stuck in the war-torn Gaza Strip continue to wait their chance to cross into Egypt.

Saturday’s list from the General Authority for Crossings and Borders in Gaza contained no Canadians, further stalling a chance to leave through the Rafah border crossing.

As of Friday, Global Affairs Canada said 376 Canadians, permanent residents and their relatives have been able to leave the Palestinian territory via Rafah.

The department had said on Wednesday that it was in touch with 386 people still in Gaza.

READ MORE: 2 more Canadians exit Gaza, Freeland sidesteps Israel rebuke of Trudeau

The United Nations was forced on Friday to stop deliveries of food and other necessities in Gaza and warned of the growing risk of widespread starvation after internet and telephone services collapsed because of a lack of fuel.

Israel announced it will allow two tanker trucks of fuel into Gaza each day for the United Nations and communications, though that is half of what the United Nations said it needs for life-saving functions such as powering water systems, hospitals, bakeries and the trucks delivering aid.

Also Friday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Israel’s military actions in the Gaza Strip are making it harder to achieve long-term stability in the region.

Trudeau, speaking to reporters at the APEC summit in San Francisco, also repeated his call for Israel to show “maximum restraint” to protect civilian life.

The latest Israel-Hamas war began on Oct. 7, when militants killed 1,200 Israelis in surprise attacks. Israel retaliated with an airstrike campaign and cut off food, fuel, water and supplies to Gaza. Health officials in the territory say more than 11,470 people have been killed and another 2,700 are reported missing.

— With files from The Associated Press

The Canadian Press

READ MORE: ‘Maximum restraint’ needed to protect civilian life in Gaza Strip: Trudeau

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