In the shadow of renewed violence engulfing Israel and the West Bank, Ottawa’s much-touted evacuation operation has brought just seven Canadian citizens to safety as of yesterday evening. The modest figure stands in stark contrast to the estimated 6,800 Canadians registered in the region, most of whom have been left to arrange their own departures amid rapidly deteriorating security conditions.
“We’ve been told for days to ‘stand by for instructions’ while commercial flights were still operating,” said Toronto resident Maya Goldstein, who managed to secure seats on a Turkish Airlines flight from Tel Aviv to Istanbul yesterday. “By the time the government actually mobilized resources, most of us had already found our own way out or decided to shelter in place.”
The crisis erupted last week following a series of coordinated attacks that triggered the most intense fighting since the 2023 Gaza conflict. According to United Nations observers, over 230 people have been killed in the first five days of violence, with civilian infrastructure increasingly targeted.
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand defended the government’s response during an emergency press conference in Ottawa. “Our consular teams are working around the clock in extremely challenging circumstances,” she stated. “The security situation has made large-scale evacuation operations exceptionally difficult.”
Documents obtained through diplomatic sources reveal that Canadian officials had been monitoring the deteriorating situation for weeks before the outbreak of hostilities. The International Crisis Group had issued warnings of imminent escalation as early as May, citing intelligence about militant movements and increased military posturing.
Those seven evacuated Canadians – two families, including three children – were airlifted aboard a Royal Canadian Air Force CC-150 Polaris that landed in Larnaca, Cyprus. The aircraft, which has capacity for approximately 200 passengers, returned mostly empty after what the Department of National Defence described as “operational challenges at the point of embarkation.”
Unlike during previous crises, including the Lebanon evacuation of 2006 when Canada transported nearly 15,000 citizens, the government has primarily directed Canadians to use commercial travel options when available. This approach has drawn criticism from opposition leaders and affected families.
“My parents are trapped in Ramallah with intermittent electricity and dwindling supplies,” said Montreal lawyer Samir Khalidi. “They’re in their seventies. The instructions they’ve received amount to ‘wait and see’ while checkpoints are closed and roads are increasingly dangerous.”
The embassy in Tel Aviv continues to operate with reduced staff, while the representative office in Ramallah has suspended operations entirely. Consular assistance is being provided remotely through emergency hotlines that many Canadians report are overwhelmed with calls.
Internal government communications obtained through parliamentary channels suggest that budget constraints played a role in the limited evacuation response. A memo dated just three weeks before the crisis notes “reduced contingency funding for non-essential emergency extractions in fiscal year 2025-26.”
Meanwhile, other nations have mounted more substantial efforts. Germany has evacuated over 900 citizens using military transport, while France has deployed naval vessels to assist in moving approximately 1,200 French nationals from coastal areas.
International security analyst Joanne Mortimer with the Canadian Global Affairs Institute points to deeper structural issues. “We’re seeing the consequences of years of underinvestment in rapid-response capabilities,” she explained during a telephone interview from Brussels. “When crises erupt simultaneously in multiple regions, as they have this year, Canada’s capacity is stretched beyond its limits.”
For those Canadians who remain in the region, the government has established safe zones in coordination with international partners. Three locations in Jerusalem and one in Tel Aviv are currently housing approximately 180 Canadian passport holders, though supplies are reportedly limited.
The Department of National Defence has positioned additional aircraft in the Mediterranean for possible evacuation missions, but no timeline has been provided for their deployment. “Operational security requires certain details remain confidential,” said Lieutenant-General Marcus Thornton during yesterday’s technical briefing.
As commercial flights continue to be canceled and border crossings face unpredictable closures, the window for departing the region is narrowing. The Travel Advisory for Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza remains at its highest level: “Avoid all travel.”
Standing outside the Larnaca International Airport, evacuee Catherine Bernard expressed both relief and frustration. “We’re grateful to be safe, but the process was chaotic. We received three different sets of instructions within 24 hours, and in the end, it felt like pure luck that we made it onto that plane.”
As diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire continue, thousands of Canadians remain caught in an increasingly dangerous situation, many wondering when—or if—their government will be able to bring them home.
