The Canadian government is withdrawing the children of diplomats from Tel Aviv as fears mount that rising tensions between Israel and Hezbollah could lead to all-out war.
“Due to the growing risk of escalation of conflict in the Middle East, Global Affairs Canada has approved the temporary relocation of dependent children and their legal guardians from Tel Aviv to a safe third country,” Global Affairs Canada said in a statement Wednesday evening.
Ottawa says Canadian embassies in Israel, Lebanon and the Canadian Representative Office to the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah remain open.
No similar evacuation efforts are underway in Beirut or Ramallah because “there are no dependent children under the age of 18” accompanying diplomatic staff, Global Affairs says.
Ottawa has urged Canadians to avoid all travel to Israel, Lebanon, Gaza and the West Bank.
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The “temporary relocation” of the diplomats’ families comes as the military is also assisting the embassy in Beirut with “contingency planning” and weighing “upcoming threats that may result in requests for support for Canadians and Canadian interests.”
According to the Government of Canada, there are more than 40,000 Canadians living in the country, but federal officials have warned Canadians in the region not to count on evacuation and to leave while commercial options are still available.
The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) are “currently pre-positioning assets in the Eastern Mediterranean region to enable Global Affairs Canada (GAC) to provide logistical and planning support,” the Department of Defence said in a statement.
“Forward positioning of assets is part of the CAF’s standard preparatory activities that support planning and liaison activities with other government departments and agencies, as well as information sharing among allies to ensure optimal situational awareness in the region.”
“Due to the volatility of the situation and ongoing contingency planning, we will not be providing further details at this time.”
Tensions have risen since the killings of two Hezbollah and Hamas leaders last week.
Israel says it killed Fuad Shukr, a senior Hezbollah military commander, in retaliation for a rocket attack from Lebanon that killed 12 children and teenagers.
Although Israel has refused to comment on the airstrike that killed Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran a day later on July 31.
Haniyah was in town for the inauguration of Iran’s new president. Iran supports Hezbollah and Hamas. Canada considers them terrorist organizations.
The killings of its top leaders have raised fears of broader retaliation and a wide-ranging regional war.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas turned 10 months old this week and there is no end in sight.
–with files from Associated Press
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