ottawa –
As war escalates in the Middle East, Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly on Tuesday “unequivocally” condemned Iran’s move to fire dozens of missiles at Israel and called on all sides to prevent further escalation of the war. .
Joly also implored Canadians in Lebanon to leave immediately as Israel launches what it calls a limited ground operation against Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon.
“These attacks from Iran only further destabilize the region, and they must stop,” Jolie said on Capitol Hill. Recent moves by Israel and Iran risk “all-out war” in the Middle East, she said.
In the House of Commons, Conservative Party leader Pierre Poièvre called on the government to make clear that Israel has the right to defend itself.
In response, Jolie said she had been in contact with her Israeli counterpart earlier in the day. In an earlier scrum with reporters, Joly said Israel does have the right to defend itself, but further escalation of the conflict won’t help.
“We need to stop this war,” she said.
Last week, Canada joined G7 countries and several Middle East allies in calling for a 21-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah as fighting escalated.
Defense Ministers Bill Blair and Jolie both insisted they still believed a diplomatic solution was possible.
“I believe that peace is possible,” Jolie said. “I believe we are at a point where we have to save lives.”
Ido Moed, Canada’s ambassador to Israel, called for Canada’s support.
“At this critical moment for Israel and the region, the State of Israel calls on Canada to stand with Israel as a fellow liberal democracy.”
The federal government on Friday began helping to free up hundreds of seats for Canadians on the few commercial flights still available from Beirut to Istanbul after many airlines canceled flights to and from Lebanon. .
On Tuesday, Jolie implored people to take up the offer.
“If you’re offered a seat, take a seat. It’s time to leave,” she said. “I know this is a difficult choice. I know the situation is very difficult, but my priority is your safety.”
He said 200 people took advantage of the empty seats over the weekend, and another 200 boarded the flight to Istanbul on Tuesday.
Approximately 4,000 people contacted Global Affairs Canada about offers of assistance, and 1,700 received return calls to proceed with their reservations.
Ms. Jolie said earlier in the day that about half of them were proceeding with reservations, but officials in her department later clarified in a media briefing that it was closer to a third.
Officials said a total of 1,000 seats should be available for reservation this week, including flights that have already departed. The ministry said it will continue to offer seats to Canadians who have been turned down.
Flights to Istanbul cost USD 330 and are to be paid by the passenger. Payment plans can be arranged in Ottawa.
Canada has been preparing for a possible full-scale evacuation of Lebanese citizens for months, but Prime Ministers Blair and Jolie say that won’t happen while commercial airlines are still flying out of the country. I made it clear.
Germany used military aircraft to evacuate embassy staff and families of German nationals with medical issues.
The NDP called on the Liberals to begin evacuations now.
The escalation comes nearly a year after a deadly Hamas attack in Israel on October 7 that killed around 1,200 people and abducted another 250.
Israel responded with attacks in Gaza that have killed more than 41,000 people, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
Hezbollah and Israel have engaged in near-daily gun battles across the Lebanese border since October 8, 2023, resulting in the displacement of communities in northern Israel.
Last week’s airstrike killed longtime Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Last week, two Canadians were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon.
On Tuesday night, at the request of NDP foreign affairs commentator Heather McPherson, Canadian MPs held an emergency debate on Canada’s response to the Middle East crisis and evacuation measures.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 1, 2024.
With files from Associated Press
