Voluntary? Over 300 Eritreans leave Israel for Canada

The Population and Immigration Authority continues its assistance activities to foreigners staying in Israel and seeking assistance in leaving Israel. The Voluntary Departure Assistance Unit has assisted approximately 2,553 foreigners to leave the country since the beginning of 2024, some to their countries of origin and some to third countries.

Yesterday, about 317 foreigners, most of them Eritreans, were flown to Canada on a special flight chartered by the state, as part of an agreement with the state. The passenger mix is ​​families and individual passengers. The process of their departure from Israel was done within the framework of a voluntary departure procedure, during which they submitted a request to fly to Canada and the flight timing is compatible with them.

The Minister of the Interior Arbel, who leads the policy, arrived at the airport together with the Director General of the Population and Immigration Authority Eyal Siso to accompany the procedure. Minister Arbel wanted to thank our Canadian partners, the United Nations Commission for Refugees and the employees of the enforcement system at the Population and Immigration Authority for their dedicated and professional work

Minister Arbel: "I came here to see up close the wonderful work done by the Population and Immigration Authority for voluntary immigration. This procedure is the best means of moving vulnerable populations from Israel, to a new and promising future. The procedure was done in full agreement with the immigrants who are looking forward to the new chapter in their lives. Big and happy new year."