Palestinians seeking passage to Canada fight despair as Rafah campaign closes off their exit

Nearly 200 Palestinians have managed to escape Gaza and obtain approval to travel to Canada — but they had to pay thousands of dollars to smuggle themselves into Egypt. That avenue is now closed off, due to the military campaign Israel launched in Rafah this week.

Palestinians seeking passage to Canada fight despair as Rafah campaign closes off their exit
Palestinians mourn their relatives killed in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip, at a hospital in Rafah, Gaza, Friday, May 10, 2024.

Nearly 200 Palestinians have managed to escape Gaza and obtain approval to travel to Canada — but they had to pay thousands of dollars to smuggle themselves into Egypt. That avenue is now closed off, due to the military campaign Israel launched in Rafah this week.