Canadian killed at Gaza border after threatening troops with knife: Israeli police

Israeli police told the Associated Press news agency that the man was Canadian, but the Israeli military would not confirm the nationality, saying instead that “the suspect is a foreigner who came to the area from Israeli territory, not from the Gaza Strip.”

The Israeli ambassador to Canada issued a military statement about X. Unconfirmed reports mention the man’s name, while some claim he is an American citizen.

According to a spokeswoman, Canadian consular officials in Israel are gathering information about the incident.

“Global Affairs Canada is aware of an incident involving a Canadian citizen in Israel,” wrote Charlotte MacLeod. “Due to privacy concerns, no further information can be released at this time.”

The incident comes amid a spate of stabbings during the nine-month war in Gaza, which began in October last year after Hamas militants killed 1,200 people, including soldiers.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military on Monday ordered the evacuation of part of the Gaza Strip area it has designated as a humanitarian zone, saying it planned to launch an operation against Hamas militants who have entrenched themselves in the area and used it to fire rockets into Israel.

Nearly 39,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s war in the area, including militants, according to the Hamas-led Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip.

Canada has been calling for a ceasefire and more humanitarian aid to reach the area for months. Most buildings have been damaged and the United Nations says no place is safe for the 2.2 million Palestinians who live there.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 22, 2024.

Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press