Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly condemned the "Israeli" airstrike on a refugee camp in Rafah, which killed dozens, calling it "horrific" and urging for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Joly stated, "Even in war, there are rules. The images from Rafah are horrific and heartbreaking." She emphasized Canada's stance on Rafah, reiterating that Palestinian civilians have no safe place to go.

She further asserted, "The killing of innocent civilians is utterly unacceptable. The International Court of Justice's decisions are binding. The level of human suffering is catastrophic. A ceasefire must be established immediately."

On Monday, Canada announced its intention to grant visas to 5,000 residents of Gaza, more than previously pledged, and expressed being "horrified" by the Israeli airstrike on Rafah, which resulted in a fire and the death of 45 people.

These visas for relatives of Canadians living in Gaza represent five times the number of temporary residency visas under a special program Canada announced in December. Initially, Ottawa had pledged 1,000 visas for Gaza residents.

Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller noted, "While exiting Gaza is currently impossible, the situation could change at any time. By increasing the cap, we will be prepared to help more people as the situation evolves."

A spokesperson for Miller reported that 448 Gaza residents have been granted temporary visas, including 254 under policies unrelated to the special visa program, and 41 individuals have arrived in Canada so far.