Nearly 5,000 Palestinians have been deemed eligible under Canada’s special immigration program for Gaza, yet fewer than 15%—just 620 people—have successfully arrived in Canada. Immigration lawyers are accusing the federal government of deliberately slowing down approvals, arguing that Ottawa is failing to capitalize on the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and the reopening of the Rafah border crossing to press Israel for more exits.
Many Palestinians have paid thousands in bribes to cross into Egypt for mandatory biometric checks, only to face indefinite delays awaiting final approval from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Others remain in Gaza, waiting for confirmation of their visas. Lawyer Yameena Ansari criticized the slow processing, stating that IRCC has expedited applications for other groups in the past, proving that the delay is intentional. Warda Shazadi Meighen, another immigration lawyer, emphasized that Canada must act now to fulfill its humanitarian commitments before the border potentially closes again.
Ottawa’s Gaza program faced scrutiny when it was first announced, with U.S. politicians—including now-Secretary of State Marco Rubio—raising security concerns over potential ties to Hamas. This week, former U.S. President Donald Trump stirred further controversy by proposing an American takeover of Gaza, suggesting Palestinians be permanently resettled elsewhere while the region is redeveloped into a tourism hub.
IRCC has defended the pace of visa processing, citing logistical challenges in securing exit approvals from Israeli authorities. Immigration Minister Marc Miller’s office acknowledged the difficulties but did not commit to any timeline for accelerating approvals. Lawyers argue that Canada showed far greater urgency in processing Ukrainian refugee applications, highlighting what they see as a stark discrepancy in Ottawa’s response.
Among those stranded is the family of Yasir Kaheil, a Canadian-Palestinian whose relatives fled to Cairo for biometrics but remain in limbo. “The program is a joke,” Kaheil said, expressing frustration over bureaucratic delays. Meanwhile, Israel’s embassy in Canada insists that security concerns drive restrictions at the Rafah crossing, stressing that no safe haven should be granted to terrorist elements. With Trump’s latest proposal adding a new dimension to the crisis, advocates warn that continued delays could leave thousands trapped in an increasingly volatile situation.
