Jana's Story
On a tragic death and Canadian double standards.
In my previous newsletter, I published some poetry from Dima Khalil; here, I share the words of another Palestinian from Gaza, Mahmoud Elkahlout, who now lives in Montreal. I do so not only because he’s become a friend, but also as the death of Jana (13), the daughter of Mahmoud and Sama Alkhdour, represents in singular the broader tragedy of Gaza – as well as the complicity of the Canadian government.
On that note, an anecdote: In early November, I attended the inaugural conference of the Coordinating Council for Palestine here in Montreal. At one session, “Palestine, the International Criminal Court and International Law”, a panel of lawyers and experts discussed the challenges of working in the international court systems, making clear that these institutions serve not justice, but rather Western hegemonic power. And yet, the work matters: As legal scholar Nina Farnia noted, even though it can feel like a losing battle, the fight must continue – if for no other reason than we can name names, and deeds, on the record. So that we, and they, never forget.
It is in that spirit that I share Mahmoud’s words, so that, on the other side of this, we remember David Lametti, Marc Miller, Justin Trudeau and others, and the role they played in this story.
Note that this is an abridged version of a letter Mahmoud shared with me; you can read the complete one here, including the story of his brother and sister-in-law, Hasan and Mariam, and their journey to Canada via Cairo. In reading that – and in reading this – I want you to bear in mind that the federal government has approved the applications of nearly one million refugees from Ukraine. The number of approvals for refugees from Gaza: less than 500 – out of nearly 9000 – as of September 13, 2024.
The organization GazanCanadians, formed by a group of Canadian citizens from the region, is currently pressuring the federal government to issue visas for their family members; you can follow and support their work here. -JRS
My name is Mahmoud Elkahlout, the father of Jana Elkahlout, who tragically passed away in Gaza on January 8, 2024, after a long struggle with illness, compounded by the dire conditions imposed by war and the Israeli blockade. Jana suffered from cerebral palsy and required intensive special care, but her life was cut short due to several devastating factors:
The lack of food and medicine caused by the blockade imposed by Israeli forces on the Baptist Hospital in Gaza City, where she was receiving treatment until her final moments.
The refusal of the Red Cross to cooperate with us in transferring her to the Rafah border crossing so she could travel to Canada, accompanied by my brother Hasan and his wife Mariam. Notably, the Red Cross was actively evacuating Israeli hostages from Gaza throughout the war.
Although my brother and his wife managed to leave Gaza for Egypt, they faced extremely harsh humanitarian conditions there. We had hoped that Jana would join us in Canada to reunite with her siblings, Elia and Sham, after years of separation. Sadly, fate denied us this opportunity.
Our Efforts to Reunite the Family
Since our arrival in Canada on June 28, 2019, my wife, Samar Alkhdour, and I have been in contact with the Member of Parliament for Verdun, Mr. David Lametti, who also served as the Minister of Justice in Justin Trudeau’s government. We sought a swift solution to ensure our daughter Jana’s transfer to Canada. Unfortunately, our efforts were met with indifference and neglect:
Mr. Lametti initially refused to meet with us and showed no serious engagement with our humanitarian case.
Following the outbreak of war in Gaza in October 2023, we intensified our efforts to pressure him for an urgent solution. When he finally agreed to meet, he treated us with disrespect and demonstrated a clear bias toward the Israeli side, stating: “The Palestinians started the aggression.” This despite our insistence on focusing solely on the humanitarian aspect of our request.
We asked him to expedite our permanent residency process to facilitate Jana’s transfer to Canada. However, he replied: “I cannot change Canada’s policies to meet your request,” which was never our demand in the first place.
Regrettably, Mr. David Lametti left political life in January 2024 without offering any tangible solutions to our humanitarian case.
Our Story with Immigration Minister Marc Miller
After our attempts to communicate with Canadian parliamentarians and their lack of cooperation, we reached out to the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) to arrange a meeting with the Minister of Immigration. In late March 2024, I met with Minister Marc Miller and spoke on behalf of my family, advocating for our rights as Canadians of Palestinian origin who have relatives in Gaza. I called for changes to the Gaza crisis visa to make it open, allowing our relatives to come to Canada without conditions – just as the visa process had been facilitated for Ukrainians and Syrians.
Months passed without any response from the minister or his office, and we are still being ignored.
Our Story with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
In September 2024, during the by-election in the LaSalle–Émard–Verdun riding, I met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who was accompanied by Laura Palestini, the candidate for our district. I stopped Mr. Trudeau and spoke to him about the death of my daughter Jana, the Gaza file crisis, the government’s lackluster handling of our relatives’ issues, and the disregard shown by Immigration Minister Marc Miller to our just demands.
But I was surprised by a response I didn’t expect. He said to me: “Wait until the candidate Laura wins the by-election, and we will work with your file!”
My Demands as a Palestinian and Canadian Citizen
On behalf of my family in Gaza and all the Palestinians residing in Canada, I demand the following:
Accountability for negligence: I demand accountability for David Lametti, Marc Miller, Justin Trudeau, and the Red Cross for their clear negligence in responding to the urgent humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and for ignoring their humanitarian responsibilities toward my family and all the Palestinians enduring catastrophic conditions there.
Immediate evacuation of affected families: The immediate evacuation of my family and all affected Palestinian families in Gaza to Egypt as a first step to ensure their safety. Following that, I call for facilitating their arrival in Canada, particularly given the dire circumstances they face due to the ongoing siege and escalating war.
Policy reform for the Gaza crisis: Streamlining travel procedures for relatives of Palestinians in Gaza and ensuring they are treated fairly. This includes providing them with services comparable to those extended to Syrian and Ukrainian refugees, such as comprehensive government support and the issuance of permanent residency cards.
Solidarity with Palestinian Canadians: Reaffirming the role of the Canadian government in supporting its citizens of Palestinian origin and protecting their rights, as well as the rights of their families in conflict zones. I also demand efforts to find permanent and just solutions that ensure stability and dignity for all affected Palestinians.