After hundreds of Canadians and permanent residents were able to get out of the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing at the Egyptian border last month, evacuations have slowed.

 

 

The Trudeau government has announced a temporary program that could permit extended family members of Canadian citizens or permanent residents to also leave.

The definition of extended family is being expanded to include spouses, common-law partners, children – regardless of age, grandchildren, siblings, parents or grandparents who’d like to leave the besieged territory.

 

 

Immigration Minister Marc Miller stresses the government has does not have ”any assurances” that those family members will be able to get out as there’s an extensive vetting process and Israel and Egypt must approve the list of those hoping to leave.