Following weeks of urging Canadians in the Middle East to arrange their own departures amidst the escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas, the Canadian government has initiated a formal evacuation process. This significant shift in policy comes as the situation remains volatile, with ongoing tensions between Israel and Iran.

On Monday, Global Affairs Canada announced on X (formerly Twitter) that a group of Canadian citizens in the West Bank had successfully been transported to Jordan via the Allenby/King Hussein Bridge. Consular officials provided on-the-ground support for this initial evacuation effort, marking a critical step towards bringing Canadians home to safety.

Adding another layer of complexity to the situation, a potential breakthrough emerged later that day. President Donald Trump announced a proposed ceasefire between Iran and Israel, effective Wednesday midnight. At the time of this writing, Global Affairs Canada had not yet commented on how this development might affect its evacuation plans.

The evolving situation continues to be closely monitored, and updates are expected as the situation unfolds.