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The Jerusalem Post

Canada to pull children of diplomats out of Israel, Canadian Press reports

 
 Canadian Ambassador to China Dominic Barton speaks to journalists and diplomats via video link from Dandong, where a local court ruled on the case of Michael Spavor, charged with espionage in June 2019, at the Canadian embassy in Beijing, China August 11, 2021 (photo credit: REUTERS)
Canadian Ambassador to China Dominic Barton speaks to journalists and diplomats via video link from Dandong, where a local court ruled on the case of Michael Spavor, charged with espionage in June 2019, at the Canadian embassy in Beijing, China August 11, 2021
(photo credit: REUTERS)

Amid growing fears of a broader conflict in the Middle East, Canada evacuates diplomats' families from Israel.

The Canadian government said on Wednesday it has decided to pull the children and guardians of its diplomats out of Israel, amid fears of a widened conflict in the Middle East, the Canadian Press reported.

Israel's tensions with Iran and Hezbollah have fanned fears of a broader conflict in a region already on edge amid Israel's assault on Gaza which has killed tens of thousands and caused a humanitarian crisis, including widespread hunger.

There has been an increased risk of escalation into a broader Middle East war after the killings of Palestinian Islamist group Hamas' leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran and of Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut drew threats of retaliation against Israel.

 An anti-missile system fires interception missiles as rockets fired from Lebanon, as it seen from the Hula Valley, July 20, 2024.  (credit: AYAL MARGOLIN/FLASH90)
An anti-missile system fires interception missiles as rockets fired from Lebanon, as it seen from the Hula Valley, July 20, 2024. (credit: AYAL MARGOLIN/FLASH90)

Global Affairs Canada, in a statement cited in the Canadian Press, said it has approved the temporary relocation of the diplomats' children and their guardians to a safe third country. It added that diplomats stationed in Ramallah in the West Bank and in Beirut do not have dependents living with them.

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Warnings from Canada

Canada on Saturday warned citizens to avoid all travel to Israel, citing the ongoing regional conflict and unpredictable security situation. It also urges its citizens to not travel to Gaza and the West Bank.

The embassies in Tel Aviv and Beirut and the representative office to the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank "all remain fully operational and continue to provide essential services to Canadians," the Canadian government said in the statement cited by the Canadian Press.

The latest bloodshed in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict was triggered on Oct. 7 when Palestinian Islamist group Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 and taking about 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

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