What began as a vacation to visit relatives in Israel has become a desperate bid to get home for a Canadian family now stuck there amid deadly fighting between Israel and Hamas.
Rus Benco, his wife and their two young children — aged 10 months and two years old — had been in the town of Tiberias for three weeks when Hamas militants launched a surprise incursion from Gaza into Israel on Saturday.
“It’s terrifying, and we’re thinking (about) how to get out,” Benco told CTVNews.ca in an interview over Zoom on Tuesday. “We didn’t even know how serious it would be at the beginning, but I think it’s becoming clearer and clearer that probably the best strategy is to leave the country now, because it doesn’t seem like it’s something that is going to quiet down in the very near future.”
The family is scheduled to return home to Pickering, Ont., on Oct. 30 but said they don’t feel safe staying until the end of the month. Although several hours by car from the fighting near Gaza, Benco said he worries they could be in danger if fighters from Lebanese militant group Hezbollah try to invade Israel from the north.
Despite his efforts, Benco has not been able to secure a flight out of Israel earlier than Oct. 16, and he’s worried that flight will be cancelled.
Air Canada joined other airlines on Sunday and temporarily cancelled all flights to Tel Aviv, ending the only direct commercial air links between Israel and Canada via Toronto and Montreal.
After days of pressure to arrange flights for Canadians who are stranded in the region, the federal government announced Tuesday evening that they will begin that process.
“We are planning to begin the assisted departure of Canadians from Tel Aviv in the coming days, with the help of an aircraft from the Canadian Armed Forces,” Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, which was captioned, “My message to Canadians in Israel, West Bank and Gaza.”
“These flights will be available to Canadian citizens, their spouses, and their children; as well as Canadian Permanent Residents, their spouses and their children. We are also working on additional options for those who cannot reach the airport in Tel Aviv.”
Joly said that more details would be available on Wednesday, but that affected Canadians can start registering now with Global Affairs Canada.
Benco had been scheduled to fly on his own from Tel Aviv to Europe for a short trip on Oct. 13, but as with so many other flights through Tel Aviv, it was cancelled.
“So we’re looking for various options to get out, and now we have two tickets, one for the 16th and another one for the 30th,” he said.
For now, Benco and his family will hold on to both reservations and hope the earlier flight isn’t cancelled. In the meantime, Benco said he has reached out to the Embassy of Canada to Israel twice for guidance in the past 36 hours but that he hasn’t received any useful information.
“I just get a blank answer saying to shelter in place, try to look for other airlines and listen to the local government directions, so there hasn’t been really anything to signal that there is a strategy to take care of the Canadians,” he said. “I think some type of messaging would be good to know whether there is a strategy or not, in case things intensify.”
ESCALATING VIOLENCE
Hamas militants stormed into Israel on Saturday, killing civilians and soldiers alike and taking at least 150 people hostage, including children and the elderly, according to the Israeli government. A combined total of at least 1,800 have died on both sides(opens in a new tab) following reprisal airstrikes from Israel on the blockaded Gaza Strip, flattening residential buildings and displacing thousands of civilians. Hamas has been declared a terrorist group by Canada and many other western nations.
Joly told CTV News on Monday that at least three Canadians are reported missing, but would not confirm if they had been kidnapped by Hamas.
“We’re in touch with families,” she told CTV News’ Power Play. “In the context of potential hostage-taking… we don’t want to increase the value of these hostages or put their lives even more at risk.”
Joly also responded to reports that Canada’s embassy in Tel Aviv was closed or maintaining holiday hours during the Thanksgiving weekend, making it difficult for Canadians to get consular assistance.
“I made sure that they were open,” Joly said. “The team has been working since the beginning of this terrorist attack by Hamas, which of course we condemn, since Saturday.”
According to Global Affairs Canada, there are more than 3,234 Canadians registered in Israel and 478 Canadians registered in Palestinian territories. Canada has embassies in Israel and in Ramallah, the West Bank’s de facto administrative capital.
The agency said Tuesday that they had responded to 1,234 enquiries since Saturday.
“Global Affairs Canada is aware of one confirmed death of a Canadian and reports of a second death, as well as three other Canadians who are reported missing,” the agency stated.
It’s unknown how many Canadians might be stranded in the Gaza Strip currently, as Israel ordered on Monday for the region’s electricity to be cut off, complicating communication going in and out of the region.
Joly said Canada has increased capacity at the embassies in neighbouring Egypt, Lebanon and Jordan to assist in the crisis.
Countries such as Poland, Italy and Brazil have shared plans to send military evacuation flights for their citizens. Canada will now be following suit after days of uncertainty.
On Monday, Joly indicated that while they were looking at other options, Canadians caught up in the crisis were being advised to “shelter in place,” stating that it could be dangerous for Canadians to amass at airports.
Prior to Joly’s Tuesday announcement that flights would be arranged, the Conservative Party of Canada had called on the federal government to immediately commence evacuation flights(opens in a new tab) for Canadian citizens stranded in Israel.
Joly stated in her Tuesday announcement that Canadians could register for a flight out of the region by contacting (+1) 613-996-8885 or sos@international.gc.ca.
“This is how we will share information directly with you,” she wrote.
It’s not yet clear how Canadians trapped in the Gaza Strip, which is under a strict blockade, will be able to access the assisted flights out of Tel Aviv.
Canadians Mike Safi and Silvana Nematallah are currently stranded at a hotel in Jerusalem. With their original flights to Canada cancelled, they are now hoping to return home later in the week via Turkiye and England.
“It’s been a very harrowing four days,” Nematallah told CTV News Channel on Tuesday. “Yesterday was the worst day. We were going down to the bunker when we heard the sirens many, many times in the day, so that was very, very scary.”
Safi says he spent 20 minutes waiting for consular help on the phone, and that he was advised to fill out an online form and stand by for more information.
“That was four days ago; until now, no one got back to me,” Safi said. “I’m just really disappointed, even appalled, at the lack of help that I received from the embassy.”
Safi and Nematallah said they booked their new flights themselves and were hoping that Canada could at least arrange seats on another country’s evacuation flights.
“We need a pathway out,” Nematallah said. “We need to leave before things continue to escalate and become extremely dangerous.”
The announcement that there will be assisted flights out of Tel Aviv for Canadians may be a relief for Canadians trapped in the region, but it comes after days of families grappling for other solutions, sometimes at a heavy price.
That’s the situation that Andrea Yampolsky’s family found itself in.
Speaking to CTVNews.ca on Tuesday prior to the announcement of assisted flights, Yampolsky shared that she has spent thousands of dollars scrambling to find a way out of Israel for her elderly mother and her sister.
Yampolsky’s sister and their 86-year-old mother had been in Israel to visit family and were staying with Yampolsky’s sister-in-law at her home in Ra’anana in the Central District of Israel when the attack happened.
“They were scheduled to come home today. And, of course, Air Canada cancelled the flight,” Yampolsky said.
Over the past few days, Yampolsky has helped her mother and sister book more than three flights, only to see cancellations continue to roll in.
Their hopes were pinned on their backup option, a flight set to leave on Sunday, but then Yampolsky said her sister received an announcement from the Israeli government telling residents they should be preparing enough food and water for several days in a bomb shelter.
“My mother’s 86,” she said. “So I said, ‘I don’t want to take the risk of you being stuck in a bomb shelter for three days. We have to try to get you out.’”
They finally booked a flight on a low-cost carrier that would take them to Istanbul and then to Toronto on Thursday. Her sister lives in Toronto, so their mother will be able to stay with her there before flying home to Yampolsky in Montreal, she explained. But booking the flights has added up.
“All that is also additional thousands and thousands,” she said. “Like, we’re talking an extra five to six thousand dollars per person.”
Air Canada is refunding some of the ticket which was originally cancelled, but it’s not the money that bothers Yampolsky so much as the feeling of being abandoned by Canada for the past few days. Although her mother and sister are currently in a region where they are not near the fighting, it’s been a harrowing experience, she said.
“I’m completely stressed out of my mind,” she said.
The Canadian Armed Forces currently contributes to three multinational security missions in the region and has a presence in Jerusalem, Lebanon, Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula and the Golan Heights between Israel and Syria.
Around 90 military and civilian personnel are deployed across the affected regions as part of these three missions, including personnel stationed at the Tel Aviv embassy.
“We can confirm that all (Canadian Armed Forces) members are safe and accounted for,” a defence spokesperson told CTVNews.ca. “We also currently do not anticipate a requirement for Canadian military assistance from Israel.”
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Former U.S. Open champion Gary Woodland finished 54 holes of the wind-delayed Shriners Children’s Open knowing he’ll have his best chance at winning since brain surgery more than a year ago. Best of all Saturday was being finished.
Woodland had three birdies over his final six holes and extended his bogey-free streak to 28 holes in polishing off a 6-under 65 that gave him a share of the clubhouse lead with Las Vegas resident Kurt Kitayama, who also had a 65.
They trailed J.T. Poston and Doug Ghim by one shot when play was suspended by darkness. Thirty of the 66 players who made the cut earlier Saturday did not finish.
Poston had an eagle during his closing stretch of the second round for a 65, and his only sub-par hole in the third round was an eagle on the par-5 ninth. It put him at 15-under par through 13 holes. Also at 15 under was Ghim, who had four straight birdies and was facing a five-foot par putt on the 17th hole when it was too dark to continue.
Woodland had surgery in September 2023 to remove a lesion on his brain, situated on a tract that caused fear and anxiety. It’s been a long road back of making progress with his health, getting dialed in on the right medication and trying to get his game in order.
He also went back to Randy Smith, the PGA Hall of Fame swing coach in Dallas. Now Woodland is sensing the pieces coming back together.
“I feel a lot better for one,” Woodland said. “That’s a huge help. But I’ve seen some signs. I’ve been back with Randy Smith for a couple months now. I am starting to drive it better, iron play, controlling the golf ball like I haven’t in a long time, which is nice. Then putts start going in, start putting some good scores up.
“I’m excited and happy to be here — and really happy to finish tonight so I can get some sleep tomorrow.”
The third round was to resume at 8 a.m., and Woodland likely will start around 11 a.m. That beats getting up before dawn, which he already has had to do twice this week.
Next to be determined is where he stands.
Harris English and Alejandro Tosti of Argentina also were at 14 under with four holes to play, including the reachable par 4 and the easiest of the three par 5s. Six other players were at 13 under and still had holes to play.
Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont., only completed 13 holes on Saturday and sits two shots back of the leaders. Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., is tied for 44th at 5 under. Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont., is tied for 61st at 3 under.
The wind has calmed substantially from Friday, when gusts approached 50 miles per hour and led to a four-hour delay that caused the stop-and-start and the last two days being suspended because of darkness. A TPC Summerlin course that was all about hanging on is now back to being a test of who can make the most birdies.
“Conditions will be pretty easy. I think you saw that with some of the scores,” Poston said. “Guys are making birdies. So I think it’s just trying to stay aggressive but also stay patient if the putts don’t fall early because there is a lot of holes left.”
The second round didn’t end until about noon Saturday and the cut was at 3-under 139. Among those who missed was Tom Kim, the two-time defending champion who was trying to become the first player since Steve Stricker at the John Deere Classic (2009-11) to win the same PGA Tour event three straight years.
Also missing the cut were the three winners in the FedEx Cup Fall — Patton Kizzire, Kevin Yu and Matt McCarty.
TORONTO – Simple Plan is getting the documentary treatment.
The Canadian pop-punk band will be the subject of a forthcoming documentary on Prime Video, which is slated to debut sometime next year.
Lead singer Pierre Bouvier announced the partnership on stage at the When We Were Young music festival in Las Vegas on Saturday.
The untitled film from director Didier Charette is currently in production with Sphere Media.
The movie will follow Simple Plan’s formation in Montreal in the late 1990s and the band’s early success, featuring never-before-seen archival footage and fresh interviews with the musicians and their contemporaries.
Simple Plan is the latest in a series of Canadian musicians to be profiled on Prime Video, after “I Am: Celine Dion” in June and “The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal,” which premièred at the Toronto International Film Festival in September.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 19, 2024.
The world’s final glimpse of Hamas’ leader was rough and raw, showing him wounded and cornered as he sat in a bombed-out Palestinian home and faced down the Israeli drone filming him, hurling a stick at it.
For Israel, the scene was one of victory, showing Yahya Sinwar, the architect of Oct. 7, broken and defeated.
But many in the Arab and Muslim world — whether supporters of Hamas or not — saw something different in the grainy footage: a defiant martyr who died fighting to the end.
Clips from the released drone footage went viral on social media, accompanied by quotes from Sinwar’s speeches in which he declared that he would rather die on the battlefield. An oil painting of a masked Sinwar sitting proudly on an armchair was widely shared, apparently inspired by the last image of him alive.
“By broadcasting the last minutes of the life of Yahya Sinwar, the occupation made his life longer than the lives of his killers,” Osama Gaweesh, an Egyptian media personality and journalist, wrote on social media.
In Gaza, reactions to Sinwar’s death were mixed. Some mourned his killing, while others expressed relief and hope that it could bring an end to the devastating war triggered by the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel that he is said to have directed. Across the Arab and Muslim world, and away from the devastation in Gaza, opinions varied.
One thing, though, was clear. The footage was hailed by supporters and even some critics as evidence of a man killed in confrontation who at least wasn’t hidden in a tunnel surrounded by hostages as Israel has said he was for much of the last year.
Three days after he was killed, Israel’s military dropped leaflets in south Gaza, showing another image of Sinwar lying dead on a chair, with his finger cut and blood running down his forehead. “Sinwar destroyed your lives. He hid in a dark hole and was liquidated while escaping fearfully,” the leaflet said.
“I don’t think there is a Palestinian leader of the first rank who died in a confrontation (like Sinwar), according to what the leaked Israeli version shows,” said Sadeq Abu Amer, head of the Palestinian Dialogue Group, an Istanbul-based think tank.
Sinwar’s demise was different
Unlike Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in his hotel room in Iran, or the leader of Lebanon’s Hezbollah group Hassan Nasrallah, bombed in an underground bunker by dozens of massive munitions, Sinwar was killed while apparently fighting Israeli forces, more than a year after the war began.
Iran, the Shiite powerhouse and a main backer of Hamas, went further. It contrasted Sinwar’s death with that of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, Tehran’s archenemy.
In a statement by Iran’s U.N. Mission, it said Saddam appeared disheveled out of an underground hole, dragged by U.S. forces while “he begged them not to kill him despite being armed.” Sinwar, on the other hand, was killed in the open while “facing the enemy,” Iran said.
In a strongly worded statement, the Cairo-based Al-Azhar, the highest seat of Sunni Muslim learning in the world, blasted Israel’s portrayal of Sinwar as a terrorist. Without naming Sinwar, the statement said that the “martyrs of the resistance” died defending their land and their cause.
In Israel, the army’s Arabic-speaking spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, described Sinwar as “defeated, outcast, and persecuted.” Many celebrated the news of the killing of the architect of the Oct. 7 attack.
Video posted online showed a lifeguard on a Tel Aviv beach announcing the news to applause, while Israeli media showed soldiers handing out sweets. Residents of Sderot, a town that was attacked by Hamas militants, were filmed dancing on the streets, some wrapped in Israeli flags. On Telegram, some shared pictures of a dead Sinwar, likening him to a rat.
But there were also protests from families of hostages and their supporters who want Israeli leaders to use the moment to bring the hostages home.
Some are energized, not demoralized
Susan Abulhawa, one of the most widely read Palestinian authors, said the images released by Israel were a source of pride. Israel “thought that publishing footage of Sinwar’s last moments would demoralize us, make us feel defeat,” she wrote on X. “In reality, the footage immortalizes Sinwar and galvanizes all of us to have courage and resolve until the last moment.”
In the Palestinian territories and Lebanon, some remembered him with respect, while others expressed anger.
“He died as a fighter, as a martyr,” said Somaia Mohtasib, a Palestinian displaced from Gaza City.
For Saleh Shonnar, a resident of north Gaza now displaced to the center, tens of thousands of Palestinians were killed. “Hundreds, tens of senior leaders were martyred and replaced with new leaders.”
In Khan Younis, Sinwar’s birthplace, mourners in a bombed-out mosque recited the funeral prayer for a Muslim when the body is missing. Israel has kept Sinwar’s body. Dozens of men and children took part in the prayers.
And in Wadi al-Zayne, a town in Lebanon’s Chouf region with a significant Palestinian population, Bilal Farhat said that Sinwar’s death made him a symbol of heroic resistance.
“He died fighting on the front line. It gives him some sort of mystical hero aura,” Farhat said.
Some Palestinians took to X to criticize Sinwar and dismiss his death in comparison to their own suffering. One speaker on a recorded discussion said there is no way of telling how he died. Another blamed him for 18 years of suffering, calling him a “crazy man” who started a war he couldn’t win. “If he is dear, we had many more dear ones killed,” one yelled.
In the long run, the think tank’s Abu Amer said that the effect of the support and empathy for Sinwar after his death is unlikely to change the Arab public’s view of Oct. 7 and what followed.
“Those who supported Oct. 7 will continue to, and those who opposed Oct. 7 — and they are many — will keep their opinions, even if they show sympathy or admiration for him. Most Palestinians are now focused on ending the war,” he said.
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Fatma Khaled reported from Cairo. Julia Frankel and Ibrahim Hazboun in Jerusalem, Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations, Amir Vahdat in Tehran, Iran, Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut, and Wafaa Shurafa in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, contributed to this report .
