Global Affairs Canada confirms four Canadians are missing in connection with the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Posted at 8:33 p.m.
“Global Affairs Canada is aware of the deaths of three Canadians and the disappearance of four additional Canadians,” the federal agency said in an email Thursday evening.
Adi Vital-Kaploun, a Canadian mother of two, is one of three Canadian victims already identified. She was executed by Hamas terrorists. The family of this 33-year-old woman, who lived in Israel, mourns the loss of this “warm soul” but takes comfort in the fact that her children are healthy and happy.
The other two victims are Alexandre Look, a 33-year-old Montrealer who, according to his father, “left as a hero” by protecting other people. Ben Mizrachi, a 22-year-old man from British Columbia, was also murdered.
The two men were attending an open-air concert in southern Israel when Hamas attacked.
One of the missing Canadians is Vivian Silver. At the time of her disappearance, she was hiding behind a closet in her accommodation on a kibbutz in Berri, 4 kilometers from the Gaza Strip, according to information from a friend provided to several Canadian media outlets. Ms. Silver has been involved in the Israeli Women Wage Peace movement for eight years.
The other missing Canadian, Tiferet Lapidot, was reportedly taken hostage by Hamas.
There are currently more than 5,685 Canadians registered with the Canadian Abroad Registration in Israel and 465 Canadians registered in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Global Affairs Canada said by email.
“Canada is actively working to support the departure of Canadians, permanent residents and their eligible family members from Tel Aviv Ben Gurion International Airport to Athens, with the support of Canadian Forces aircraft.” Two CC-150 Polaris were assigned to the operation and began operations,” the federal agency said.
Two flights took off from Tel Aviv on Thursday. The first carried 120 Canadians and passengers of other nationalities, including Americans, Australians and Brazilians. Further flights are planned in the coming days.
“We are also working on additional options for those who cannot travel to Tel Aviv Airport,” Global Affairs Canada added.