Photo: Adrian Wyld The Canadian Press Mélanie Joly pleaded Tuesday with Canadians in Lebanon to leave the country immediately.
Dylan Robertson – The Canadian Press in Ottawa
Published yesterday at 1:07 p.m. Updated yesterday at 8:48 p.m.
- Canada
As the war in the Middle East spreads on Tuesday, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly “unequivocally” condemned Iran’s decision to fire dozens of missiles at Israel, but asked the Jewish state not to retaliate in order to avoid further escalation.
Joly also pleaded with Canadians in Lebanon to leave the country immediately as Israel launched what it called a limited ground operation against Hezbollah targets in the south of that country.
“These attacks by Iran will only serve to further destabilize the region, and this must stop,” Joly said on Parliament Hill. The latest actions by Israel and Iran risk triggering “all-out war” in the Middle East, she said.
In the House of Commons, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre demanded that the government state unequivocally that Israel has the right to defend itself.
Mélanie Joly responded that she had been in contact with her Israeli counterparts earlier in the day. At a press conference, Ms. Joly said that Israel had the right to defend itself, but that further escalation of the war would not help.
“We have to end this war,” she said.
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Last week, Canada joined the G7 and several Middle Eastern allies in calling for a 21-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah as fighting between the two countries intensified.
Defence Minister Bill Blair and Joly both insisted they still believe a diplomatic solution is possible.
“I believe peace is possible,” Joly said. “I believe this is a time where we need to save lives.” »
Israeli Ambassador to Canada Iddo Moed called for Canada’s support.
“At this critical moment for Israel and the region, the State of Israel calls on Canada to stand with it as a liberal democracy,” he said.
Repatriation of Canadians
On Friday, Canada began helping to reserve hundreds of seats for Canadian citizens on the few remaining commercial flights from Beirut to Istanbul, after many carriers cancelled service to and from Lebanon.
On Tuesday, Joly urged people to take up the offer.
“If you're offered a seat, take it. It's time to go now,” she said. “I know it's a difficult choice. I know the situation is extremely difficult, but my priority is your safety.” »
She said 200 people took advantage of available seats over the weekend and another 200 were on a flight to Istanbul on Tuesday.
About 4,000 people have reached out to Global Affairs Canada for help and 1,700 have received a call to book.
Earlier in the day, Joly said about half had booked, but officials from her department later clarified in a news briefing that the figure was closer to a third.
Officials said they should be able to book 1,000 seats in total this week, a figure that includes flights that have already departed. The department said it would approach Canadians who have declined a seat to offer one on an ongoing basis.
Flights to Istanbul cost US$330 and are paid for by passengers. Ottawa can work out payment plans.
Canada has been preparing for months for the possibility of a full evacuation of citizens in Lebanon, but Blair and Joly have both made clear that this will not happen while commercial airlines are still leaving the country.
Germany has used military aircraft to evacuate the families of embassy workers and German citizens with medical conditions.
The NDP has urged the Liberals to begin the evacuations now.
The latest escalation comes nearly a year after a deadly Hamas attack in Israel on October 7, in which some 1,200 people were killed and 250 others kidnapped.
Israel responded with attacks in Gaza that left more than 41,000 dead, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
Hezbollah and Israel have been exchanging fire across the Lebanese border almost daily since October 8, 2023, leading to the evacuation of communities in northern Israel.
Last week, an airstrike killed longtime Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Two Canadians were also killed in Lebanon in Israeli airstrikes last week.
On Tuesday night, Canadian MPs held an emergency debate on Canada’s response to the Middle East crisis and its evacuation efforts, at the request of NDP foreign affairs critic Heather McPherson.