Hundreds of Canadians, their families could leave Gaza 'as early as Sunday': Global Affairs email

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Canadians in the Gaza Strip could leave via Egypt in a matter of days and potentially as soon as Sunday, recent communications from Global Affairs Canada suggest.

An email from Global Affairs Canada (GAC) sent to Canadians in the region on Friday, a copy of which CTV News obtained, says those affected should have their travel documents and other important items with them, and be ready to travel at short notice when contacted.

"We have been informed that more than 400 Canadian citizens, permanent residents and eligible family members will be able to leave Gaza through the Rafah border crossing in the coming days, and possibly as early as Sunday. We will contact you with specific departure dates," the email said.

"The situation at the Rafah crossing remains fluid and unpredictable," the email adds. "We encourage you to assess the risks as you or your family members decide whether to travel to the Rafah border crossing. Canada does not determine who is ultimately permitted to enter Egypt at the Rafah border crossing."

The email continues saying that the Egyptian government will allow those who cross from Gaza to stay for up to 72 hours or three days.

"Our consular officials will be on the Egyptian side of the border in order to facilitate your transportation to Cairo by bus and assist with onward travel to Canada at your own expense."

The latest update comes after Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said in a post Thursday evening on X, formerly known as Twitter, that she spoke with her Israeli counterpart and "received assurances that Canadians & their families will be able to leave Gaza beginning in the coming days."

"My Egyptian counterpart confirmed their cooperation," Joly's statement added. "GAC will communicate the latest information directly with Canadians."

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Defence Minister Bill Blair said he was unable to give "with absolute precision the timelines" for when Canadians could leave Gaza.

"But we're working very hard on it, and we understand its importance and urgency for those people and for their families," he said.

Some foreign passport holders have been allowed to leave Gaza through the Rafah border crossing into Egypt as of Wednesday, but roughly 450 Canadians, permanent residents and their family members remain in the Palestinian territory at this time who want to leave.

In an update Wednesday night, Global Affairs Canada said it was aware of reports that one Canadian citizen was able to leave the Palestinian territory at the border crossing with the help of a third party.

Asked why it has taken longer for Canadians to leave, Blair said there is "no specific impediment."

"There are challenges in that entire region. There's a humanitarian crisis taking place there as well, and we are also working very hard to get humanitarian aid into the region for people who desperately need it," he said.

"But the repatriation of Canadian citizens in Gaza remains a priority for us. We'll continue to work with all of our allies and all the people that control that border to get to people to safety as quickly as possible."

Over the past three days, foreign nationals who left Gaza had to be at the gate by 7 a.m. local time. The Palestinian General Authority for Crossings and Borders has previously released names of those approved to cross.

The war between Israel and Hamas has lasted a month and left thousands dead and injured.

More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, most of them in Hamas' initial attack on Oct. 7, and 242 hostages were taken from Israel into Gaza by the militant group, The Associated Press reports.

The Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza says the Palestinian death toll has reached 9,227. In the occupied West Bank, more than 140 Palestinians have been killed in violence and Israeli raids.

Six Canadians have died, along with an individual whom Global Affairs described as having "deep connections to Canada," while two Canadians are missing.

Most of the Canadians who died were killed during Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on a music festival near the Israel-Gaza border, which left at least 260 people dead.