By Barry Ellsworth
TRENTON, Canada (AA) - Canada joined a growing list of countries evacuating their citizens out of Israel, airlifting 130 by military aircraft Thursday from Tel Aviv.
"We're working tirelessly to assist Canadians in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza,” Defense Minister Bill Blair wrote on X. "We will continue to be there for Canadians who need help."
As the Canadians were flying to safety from the raging conflict between Israel and Hamas, Foreign Minister Melanie Joly pleaded for the combatants to allow aid into the Gaza Strip. Israel has cut off all power, water, medical aid and food until hostages taken by Hamas are released.
“Canada urges all parties to respect international humanitarian law and provide humanitarian access to Gaza,” Joly wrote Thursday on X. “Palestinians and Israel civilians deserve to live in peace and safety.”
Two Canadian Armed Forces CC-150 Airbus Polaris aircraft whisked the Canadians from Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv to safety in Athens.
From there Air Canada will bring them to Canada. Those eligible for evacuation include Canadian citizens, their spouses and children; Canadian permanent residents and spouses and children; and those holding dual citizenship.
There are more than 4,000 Canadians registered in Israel and almost 500 in the Gaza Strip and West Bank, according to officials.
There are expected to be two to three flights daily as more than 700 have asked to depart as the Israel-Hamas conflict intensifies.
It began Saturday with a surprise attack on Israel by Hamas and it is estimated more than 2,700 have so far died.
According to the Times of Israel, other countries are planning to evacuate their citizens or have done so, including Argentina, which started airlifting 1,200; Nigeria with 300 who fled to Jordan from Israel where they are on a Christian pilgrimage; South Korea has 192 and Portugal with 160.