Then-Israeli transportation minister Israel Katz attends the cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister’s office in Jerusalem, Feb. 17, 2019. Katz currently serves as the foreign minister. Photo: Sebastian Scheiner/Pool via REUTERS
i24 News – In response to escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah along the Lebanese border, Canada is gearing up for what could be its largest-ever evacuation operation, aimed at safeguarding approximately 45,000 Canadian citizens currently residing in Lebanon.
Reports from Hebrew media outlet Channel 12 indicate that Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly conveyed the gravity of the situation in a tense exchange with her Israeli counterpart, Israel Katz.
Joly informed Katz that Ottawa has already dispatched military forces to the region in preparation for the evacuation, underscoring the seriousness with which Canada views the potential for conflict.
The conversation, described as intense, highlighted Canada’s proactive measures amid fears of a full-scale war erupting between Israel and Hezbollah. Katz, in turn, urged Canada to exert diplomatic pressure on Iran, Hezbollah’s primary backer, to rein in the militant group and prevent further escalation of hostilities.
“The window of opportunity is closing,” Katz emphasized, expressing Israel’s concerns over the security situation along its northern border. He stressed that Israel cannot tolerate a scenario where residents are displaced from their homes due to security threats posed by Hezbollah.
Israel cannot allow the Hezbollah terror organization to continue attacking its territory and citizens, and soon we will make the necessary decisions. The free world must unconditionally stand with Israel in its war against the axis of evil led by Iran and extremist Islam. Our…
— ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) June 21, 2024
While plans for evacuating Canadians from Lebanon are well underway, it remains unclear whether similar preparations are being made for the approximately 35,000 Canadian citizens residing in Israel.