First Flight Evacuating Canadians From Israel Lands in Greece

Passengers look at a departure board at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, Israel, on Oct. 7, 2023. GIL COHEN-MAGEN/AFP via Getty Images

Defence Minister Bill Blair says the first Canadian Armed Forces evacuation flight has airlifted 130 Canadian citizens and their families out of Israel.

“We’re working tirelessly to assist Canadians in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza,” Mr. Blair said in an Oct. 12 post on X, formerly known as Twitter. “We will continue to be there for Canadians who need help.”

The evacuees departed for Athens from Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv in a military CC-150 Airbus Polaris, CTV News reported. The plane landed in the afternoon of Oct. 12 local time, with a second CFC 4172 flight scheduled to depart for Athens at a later time.

From Greece, the civilians will be brought back to Canada via commercial means.

Speaking with reporters in Brussels on Oct. 12, Mr. Blair reiterated Canada’s “unequivocal condemnation” of Hamas’ brutal violence against civilians, citing the protection of citizens as paramount during the ongoing conflict.

“I want to take this opportunity to urge all Canadians who are currently in Israel to register with Global Affairs Canada,” Mr. Blair said. “We will continue to provide updates as they are available.”

Evacuation assistance is open to Canadian citizens, their spouses and children, as well as Canadian permanent residents, their spouses and children affected by the conflict.

Global Affairs Canada (GAC) said in an Oct. 11 news release that “the safety and security of Canadians abroad is Canada’s top priority” and officials are working on additional options for those who cannot reach the airport in Tel Aviv.

There are currently more than 4,227 Canadians recorded in Israel with GAC’s Registration of Canadians Abroad service and 475 Canadians registered in Palestinian territories. 

Following the Oct. 7 surprise attack on Israel by Hamas, GAC says it has responded to 1,990 inquiries regarding the region and pertaining to issues such as travel advice and the status of flight options for departure.

GAC is sending staff to Athens and Tel Aviv to help Canadians arriving on those flights and is deploying its Standing Rapid Deployment Team (SRDT) to the region.

The SRDT has highly trained employees on standby and is ready to deploy on short notice to assist the federal government when responding to emergencies. They will be providing emergency response, coordination, consular assistance, and logistical support.

GAC has said consular services will continue to be available to Canadians in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza.