Visa requirements eased for people trapped in Gaza with Canadian relatives

People trapped in the Gaza Strip, with extended family in Canada, may now apply for temporary visas to Canada and one Hamilton man is hopeful the new measures will help his family out of the warzone. 

With the difficulty in getting in touch with family, Firas Arafat hears pleas for help. His father, two brothers, nieces and nephews are trapped in Gaza with nowhere safe to go.

“I want, I want my family to stay alive. I just want to save them. That’s all what I want” he says.

His mother managed to escape last week through her Jordanian passport. But the rest of his loved ones are left behind, under constant bombardment and airstrikes.

“they are going through starvation right now. They are obviously rotating food. Water is a big issue right now. They can’t get access to clean fresh water.”

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Arafat’s relatives have not been eligible for Ottawa’s help so far because they don’t meet Canada’s definition of immediate family, which only includes spouses, common law partners or a child under 22.

An announcement from the federal government Thursday could change that.

Officials say the estimated number of people who could benefit from this new pathway could be in the hundreds.

“To be clear, today is about providing a humanitarian pathway to safety and recognizing the importance of keeping families together” said Miller.

In light of the untenable humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, today I announced that temporary visas will be available for the extended families of Canadians or Permanent Residents, so that they may be reunited and find safety with their families in Canada. #cdnpoli

— Marc Miller ᐅᑭᒫᐃᐧᐅᓃᐸᐄᐧᐤᐃᔨᐣ (@MarcMillerVM) December 21, 2023

Arafat is one of at least 800 Palestinian-Canadians waiting anxiously to hear if the federal government will expand its definition of immediate family.

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Firas says “I’m hopeful. I’m grateful for the groups who worked really hard to get us to this level.”

Previously, the government had narrowed its focus on the 660 Canadians who were stuck in the region, as well as permanent residents, their spouses and children.

Following today’s announcement, the criteria has been expanded to include extended family connections such as parents, grandparents, siblings and grandchildren.

Those who meet the newly updated admission thresholds may be eligible for a three-year visa.

Officials expect the program to be up and running by Jan. 9.

While no exact figure was given for how many people will come to Canada under the new guidelines, Miller says he expects that number to be in the hundreds.