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Woman part of first cohort of Canadian evacuees describes journey from Gaza to Egypt

Nov 8, 2023 | 10:52 AM

A woman who was part of the first group of Canadians evacuated from Gaza  amid the Israel-Hamas war says she is incredibly relieved to have made it out of the besieged Palestinian enclave with her two children. 

Rana Nassrawi, who is currently at a hotel in Cairo, says she and her kids will be flying home to Mississauga, Ont., in a day. 

Nassrawi was among the 75 people connected to Canada who were able to leave Gaza through the southern Rafah crossing with Egypt — the only way out for foreign nationals — on Tuesday as the war entered its second month.

She says Canadian officials were on the Egyptian side of the border to welcome her and her kids and facilitated their eight-hour bus ride to Cairo from the Rafah crossing.