Calgary man who helped his parents get out of Gaza says there's more work to do

It was an emotional reunion on Saturday for a Calgary man and his parents, who landed at the Calgary International Airport after fleeing the war in Gaza. 

With his eyes glued to the entrance gates awaiting their arrival, anxiously shifting his weight, Ossama Zaqqout was brimming with excitement.

"[I'm] overwhelmed with happiness that I will be seeing my parents after what they went through," he said.

As they finally walked into view, Zaqqout ran to greet them. They embraced each other, shedding some tears. The moment has been a long time coming.

Zaqqout, a Canadian citizen who was raised in Gaza, has been working to get his parents and other family members out of the territory since October 2023. To cover the costs, he fundraised more than $100,000, and borrowed money alongside one of his brothers. 

All the while, he's been worried for his family's safety. Two of his brothers, as well his two brothers-in-law and their families, remain in Gaza. They, along with his parents, have been displaced several times throughout the conflict. 

The family evacuated from Gaza City to Khan Younis when the Israeli assault of the northern city began, said Zaqqout. Later, they were forced to flee Khan Yonis when the bombing damaged their extended families' homes.

For the past five months, Zaqqout said his family has been sheltering in makeshift tents on the beach in the Al Mawasi region of Khan Younis.

Zaqqout said he periodically lost touch with his parents during that time, the longest stretch lasting nearly two months. 

"To know that your parents and your loved ones have [been] on the edge of being killed at any time, to lose communication with them several times … it has been really difficult, really intense emotionally," said Zaqqout.

"My wife and I have been devastated several times and the feeling of being helpless and hopeless is killing us."

With his son interpreting, Ossama's father Abdalfatah Zaqqout said he is happy to be in Canada, describing what he fled from.

"Life is very difficult, the situation is very, very dire and life there … it's unbearable," he said.

Although he's grateful to have his parents now safe in Calgary, Zaqqout said he feels a mix of emotions: desperation about the ongoing conflict, alongside the optimism that he will be able to get more of his family members out.  

"So far, out of the 36 members of my family and my wife's family, I managed to get 18 members of them in Egypt. There are some people on the waiting list to leave so hopefully they will exit Gaza within the next couple of weeks."

Matthew Krupovich, a spokesperson for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), said in a statement to CBC News the department can't comment on specific cases of people arriving from Gaza for security reasons.

He said the department is aware of people who are making the journey to Canada without help from the federal government.

"IRCC remains deeply concerned about the situation in Gaza and empathizes with those affected," Krupovich said in the statement.

"That is why we introduced special measures to support temporary residence for people in Gaza who are the extended family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents. It is important to note that this temporary resident pathway is not a refugee program."

Krupovich said successful applicants to the government's program will be provided with transportation from Rafah, in Gaza, to Cairo, Egypt. Applicants are then responsible for arranging their own transportation to Canada.

People arriving through this pathway will receive an array of government support for up to one year, he said, including education and employment support, language training, as well as three months of basic health services.

As for Zaqqout, his efforts are far from over. One of his brothers and his family are scheduled to arrive in Calgary in mid-May.

He's hoping more family members will follow shortly after that.