Immigration minister says meeting with Israel's ambassador on Gaza was 'frustrating'

Federal Immigration Minister Marc Miller said Thursday his conversation with Israeli Ambassador Iddo Moed earlier this month about Canada's attempts to get Palestinians with family ties to Canada out of Gaza was «frustrating… on many levels.»

«People are dying in Gaza so we can't expect these meetings to be full of pleasantries,» Miller told journalists during a news conference.

He said he and Moed agreed to disagree on a number of points. He did not elaborate.

«We understand where they're coming from, reacting to a devastating terrorist attack,» he said. «But again, I made the point that we are trying to save lives.»

Miller also revealed that an undisclosed number of Palestinians have arrived in Canada since January.

His office said those people entered the country under «exceptional circumstances» and not through the special immigration program launched earlier this year to bring in Palestinians with family ties to Canada on a temporary basis.

The office said the Palestinians who did arrive are connected to an extended family member living in Canada. It would not disclose more information, citing concerns about privacy.

Miller said no one who has applied under the special immigration program has made it to Canada yet. The department said roughly 12 program applicants have managed to get through the Rafah crossing point out of Gaza and are now in Egypt, but they did so without help from the Canadian government.

Miller also said the Canadian government has managed to move some consular or diplomatic staff, and individuals with medical conditions, out of Gaza.

The special program was announced in December and officially launched in January. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has imposed a 1,000-person cap on the program