Amid the relentless escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict, a mother of two originating from Toronto, and currently residing in Gaza, expresses her desperate cry for evacuation. Asia Mathkour finds herself surrounded by escalating chaos and the looming threat of a ground offensive.
Mathkour, in an emotionally-charged appeal, stated, “The Canadian government does not yet have a plan to extract us, and that’s just so terrifying. Tell me what to do, instruct us Canadians situated here on the ground. Please advise.”
Since moving to the region in 2014, Mathkour and her children have experienced evacuation five times due to the unanticipated attack on Israel by Hamas. A shocking aftermath ensued, with fatalities exceeding a thousand.
The subsequent Israeli retaliation involved crippling airstrikes on the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. The sanctions cut off essential supplies, including food, water, fuel and electricity, plummeting the region into a humanitarian crisis.
Living conditions are dire; Mathkour describes a lack of electricity and critical shortages of food and water supplies. Amid constant fear, she seeks to shield her children from the brutal realities of conflict. She paints a bleak picture, “When bombings happen, we just cuddle or move to a safer area in the house.”
The healthcare sector of Gaza is plummeting to a “breaking point” as stated by the World Health Organization. They warn of an imminent humanitarian disaster if exigent provision of fuel, life-sustaining health and humanitarian aid fails amidst the comprehensive blockade. Israel remains steadfast, refusing aid until Hamas surrenders 150 hostages seized post the Saturday assault.
Thursday saw the initial two evacuation efforts by the Canadian Armed Forces. A pair of flights carried 281 Canadians and their families to safety. However, due to the absence of a humanitarian corridor in Gaza, further airlifts remain uncertain.
Mathkour fervently pleads, “If the Canadian Government has a plan, please tell me. Instruct us Canadians here in this war-ridden region. Nobody has a plan.” She is among approximately 70 Canadians stranded in Gaza, seeking aid from the Canadian government.
Government officials shared that they anticipate two evacuation flights to depart daily from Tel Aviv while scoping additional possibilities for those unable to reach Tel Aviv for evacuation.
Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly confirmed the tragic loss of two Canadians with another presumed dead in Israel.
Thursday’s report from the Gaza-based Health Ministry revealed a rising death toll of 1,537 due to Israeli attacks on Gaza, with injuries surpassing 6,612. Tragically, casualties include 276 women and an alarming 500 individuals aged under 18.
