Canada pulls diplomats' kids out of Israel as fear of broader war builds

The Canadian government says it decided to pull its diplomats' children and their guardians out of Israel, amid fears over an expanded Mideast war.

Global Affairs Canada says it has approved the temporary relocation of the children and their guardians to a safe third country.

The embassies in Tel Aviv andBeirut and the representative office to thePalestinian Authority in Ramallah, West Bank "all remain fully operational and continue to provide essential services to Canadians," Global Affairs Canada (GAC) said in a statement Wednesday evening.

Diplomats stationed in Ramallahand in Beirutdo not have dependents living with them, GAC said.

Increasing tensions

Tensions in the Middle East have sparked fears about an all-out war after the killing last week of a senior Hezbollah commander in Lebanon and Hamas's top political leader in Iran.

Ottawa on Saturday warned Canadians to avoid all travel to Israel due to the "ongoing regional armed conflict and the unpredictable security situation."

The government also advises against travelling to the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Jerusalem or Lebanon.

The current conflict broke out on Oct. 7, after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel that killed an estimated 1,200 people. TheHealth Ministry in Gaza says more than 39,100 Palestinians have since been killed in the war, which has ravaged the enclave.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with Jordan's King Abdullah II earlier this week to express his "deep concern" over the risk of expanded conflict between Israel and Iran, as well as Hezbollah and other Iran-aligned groups.

"The leaders underscored the urgent need to avoid further escalation, which puts the lives of civilians in the region at risk," the Prime Minister's Office said in a summary of the Tuesday call.