Canada announces five-fold increase in visas for Palestinians in Gaza
Al JazeeraMay 19
Canada Pledges Temporary Visas for 5K Gazans
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The Facts
Canada announced Monday it was "horrified" by Israel's Sunday airstrike on Rafah and it will increase the number of temporary resident visas it had pledged to Gazans by five times to 5K.
Canada's Immigration Minister Marc Miller said that this special visa plan is for Palestinians who have relatives in Canada.
The Spin
Narrative A
This program is a discredited farce. It requires applicants to file too much documentation and to undergo inaccessible screening in Egypt. The program's design is ineffective — as evidenced by the small number of visas that have been issued — and it's obvious Canada wants to score political points without actually welcoming more Gazans.
Narrative B
Canada is trying to do better to reunite Gazans with their families and keep as many people safe as possible. Raising the cap on the number of visas is a start, as well as coordinating with Israel and Egypt to ensure secure exits. This is a major step toward Canada helping to alleviate this humanitarian crisis.
