Law360 Canada (October 1, 2024, 4:49 PM EDT) -- Amid escalations in the Hezbollah-Israel conflict, Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly has urged Canadians and permanent residents to leave Lebanon immediately while also offering aid to Canadians in Israel, which endured scores of ballistic missile attacks from Iran on Oct. 1, 2024.

Speaking that day with reporters on Parliament Hill, Joly said 4,000 people had so far registered with Ottawa to receive information about leaving war-torn Lebanon, but only half of the 1,700 people contacted by her officials as of the morning of Oct. 1 had accepted the government’s offer of departure flights to Istanbul.

“I know that the situation is extremely difficult,” she said. “But my priority is your security and that’s why, if you’re offered a seat, please take it!” she urged.

Joly said the federal government has reserved 600 seats between Beirut and Istanbul, and “we’re also looking at more.”

“We got 200 Canadians out of Lebanon over the weekend,” she said. “We also have another flight with 200 Canadians leaving Beirut today to go to Istanbul.”

For the past year, the federal government has advised Canadians still in Lebanon to leave as soon as they can for their own safety while commercial flights and other means remain available.

Joly said the federal government “unequivocally” condemns Iran’s missile attacks on Israel. “Attacks by Iran will further destabilize the region,” she said. “This is a very, very dangerous time right now in the Middle East and our thoughts are with everyone living there right now.”

“For all Canadians in Israel, we will be ready to help you if you need help,” Joly said in French.

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced in a Sept. 27, 2024, press release that, due to the physical safety risks in Lebanon, it has administratively deferred removals to Lebanon of inadmissible foreign nationals, under para. 230(1)(c) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.

The CBSA said its administrative deferral of removals (ADR) does not apply to individuals who are inadmissible on grounds of criminality, serious criminality, international or human rights violations, organized crime or security.

“Once the situation in Lebanon stabilizes and the circumstances no longer pose a generalized risk to the entire civilian population, the ADR will be lifted and the CBSA will resume removals for individuals who are inadmissible to Canada and have a removal order that is enforceable,” the border agency said.

On Sept. 26, 2024, the federal government called for a 21-day ceasefire across the Lebanon-Israel border “to provide space for diplomacy towards the conclusion of a diplomatic settlement …”

“Canada urges all parties to protect civilians including humanitarian workers from harm and to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law,” Joly said in a statement. “Thousands of Israelis have been displaced from their homes in the north and are unable to live in peace and security because of attacks by Hezbollah, a terrorist organization. Just over the past week, hundreds of Lebanese civilians have been killed, and more than 90,000 Lebanese have been newly displaced. Canada has lost two of its own citizens due to Israeli airstrikes.”

Joly said, “Lebanese civilians should not bear the consequences of Hezbollah’s actions; they have the right to live in peace and security throughout Lebanon. Hezbollah must cease its attacks, allowing Israelis to return home safely. We will continue to do everything we can to hold Iran accountable for its atrocities in the region including its funding of terrorist attacks.”

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