Canada announced on Monday its intention to grant visas to five thousand residents of the Gaza Strip, which is more than it had previously pledged, stating that it "felt horrified" by an Israeli airstrike in Rafah that caused a fire resulting in the deaths of 45 people.

The visas to be granted to relatives of Canadians living in the Gaza Strip represent five times the number of temporary residence visas under a special program announced by Canada in December, where Ottawa initially pledged to grant 1,000 visas to Gaza residents.

Immigration Minister Marc Miller said, "Although leaving Gaza is currently not possible, the situation could change at any time. With the increase in the cap, we will be ready to assist more people as the situation evolves."

A spokesperson for Miller stated that 448 residents of Gaza have received a temporary visa, including 254 under a policy not related to the special visa program, and that 41 people have arrived in Canada so far.

Canada comments on the Israeli airstrike targeting Rafah

- An Israeli airstrike late Sunday evening caused a massive fire that resulted in the deaths of 45 people in a camp in the city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip.

- Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly stated in a release on Monday, "We were horrified by the attacks that resulted in the deaths of Palestinian civilians in Rafah," adding that Canada does not support an Israeli military operation in Rafah.

- Joly added, "This level of human suffering must end. We call for an immediate ceasefire," reiterating comments from international leaders who urged the implementation of the International Court of Justice's order to halt the Israeli attack.

- Canada has repeatedly supported calls for a ceasefire in Gaza, including at the United Nations.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously reported that the strike in Rafah was not aimed at causing civilian deaths, adding, "Unfortunately, something went tragically wrong."

Nearly 36,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli attack on Gaza, according to the health ministry in the strip, while about 1.7 million people have been displaced, over 75 percent of Gaza's population, according to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

Israel launched its military campaign after armed militants led by Hamas attacked civilian gatherings in southern Israel on October 7, resulting in around 1,200 deaths and the hostage-taking of more than 250 people, according to Israeli statistics.