Evacuations from Israel underway as military shuttles Canadians to Greece

Canadian flights evacuating citizens, permanent residents and their families from Israel began Thursdaywith twomilitaryplanes carrying people from Tel Aviv to Athens.

The Canadian government hasimplemented an evacuation plan to retrieve Canadians stranded in Israel following devastating attacks by Hamas over the weekend, and amid escalating violence in the regionas Israel strikes the Gaza Strip.

The flights are takingpassengers to Athens, federal ministers said earlier in the week. An Air Canada flight leaving from Athens tomorrow is expected to bring Canadians to Toronto.

Senior government officials told reporters Thursday that around 5,000 people have registered with Ottawa as present in the region. The government says it has collected information from 1,600 people looking to leave the region, 800 of them in Israel. Not all of those people will be looking to fly out on military planes, the officials said.

Officials said Thursday they are also exploring other departure options for Canadians, including ground travel across the border to Jordan.

During an address in the Northwest Territories Thursday afternoon, Trudeau said the first flight carrying Canadians had landed safely in Athens.

A second flight landed in Athens on Thursday evening. More than 275 Canadian citizens, permanent residents or family members were expected to have left Israel by the end of the day.

Trudeau also said the government would be looking at other options to evacuate people who can't reach the airport at Tel Aviv.

Trudeau said Canada will provide an additional$10 million in humanitarian aid for those in need in both Israel and Gaza.

The prime minister was asked multiple times about Israel's military response to the Saturday attacks, which include air strikes and a blockade of Gaza. Trudeau continued to blame Hamas for the fallout.

"We need to continue to work with international communities and allies to try to find a way to protect all civilians through this," he said. "But the choices Hamas has made make this more difficult than it would otherwise be."

Canada's Ambassador to IsraelLisa Stadelbauer spoke with CBC News at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport. She said she anticipatedthe second flight would leave at roughly 9p.m. local time.

She said around 116 Canadians were on board the first flightand she expected a similar number on the second.

"We'll continue with the flights over the coming days, depending on demand. Right now, we have about one thousand people on our list who are looking for assistance," Stadelbauer said.

WATCH | Flights evacuating Canadians from Israel begin:

Evacuation flights underway for Canadians in Israel

8 months ago

Duration 2:26

Flights for Canadians looking to leave Israel will continue in the coming days 'depending on demand,' said Lisa Stadelbauer, Canada's ambassador to Israel.

"The thing that is most stressful is the uncertainty. My greatest hope is that a week from now, people will think this was totally unnecessary and they shouldn't have left," she said.

Airlines based in countries around the world have cut flights to and from Israel due to the violence in the region.

"The risk is still live and present," Stadelbauer said.

Families have identified three Canadians killed in Israel. Senior officials told reporters Thursday that four Canadians are believed to be missing.

Israel says more than 1,200 people have been killed in Israel itself,while Gaza's health authority says at least 1,100 people have died there since Saturday.

Hundreds of Canadians in Gaza and the West Bank have also registered with Global Affairs Canada.Mohammed Fayad, a Palestinian refugee in Canada whose children are still in Gaza, toldCBC'sPower & Politics he's hoping for help fromthe federal government to bring his children to safety.

WATCH | Prime Minister discusses battle between Israel and Hamas

Trudeau says Canada looking to protect civilians caught in Israel-Hamas war

8 months ago

Duration 2:01

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada is looking for ways to protect as many civilians as possible during the conflict, which he said is the "responsibility and the fault of the terrorist organization known as Hamas."

Rob Oliphant, parliamentary secretary to Foreign Affairs Minister MlanieJoly, told host David Cochrane that Canada does not have access to Gaza, though the government remains in talks to establish humanitarian aid corridors into the area.

Senior officials said around 100 peoplein Gaza have identified themselves to GACand are seeking help to leave the region.