Canada Increases Visas for Gazans Amid Rafah Crisis

Ottawa pledges 5,000 visas for Palestinian relatives of Canadians as Israeli airstrikes in Rafah prompt international outcry.

Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced a five-fold increase in temporary visas for Gazans, from 1,000 to 5,000.
The expanded visa program aims to reunite Palestinian families in Canada, though movement out of Gaza remains challenging.
Recent Israeli airstrikes in Rafah have killed 45 people, sparking global condemnation and calls for a ceasefire.
Canada's Foreign Minister Melanie Joly expressed horror at the strikes and reiterated calls for an immediate ceasefire.
The visa program requires cooperation from Israel and Egypt, and includes extensive security and biometric screenings.