Ottawa is making plans to airlift Canadians out of Israel

Plus, the RCMP Greenbelt probe and new details about a $20M gold heist [The Star] First Up [By Manuela Vega] By Manuela Vega Good morning. Here’s the latest on Ottawa’s plans to rescue Canadians from Israel, the RCMP’s Greenbelt probe and new details about a $20-million heist. DON’T MISS Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images middle east [Ottawa will airlift Canadians out of Israel as the death toll rises]( The federal government has announced it is planning to airlift Canadians out of Israel “in the coming days” as deaths among Israelis and Palestinians reach 2,100 — although it did not say it would be rescuing Canadians in Gaza or the West Bank. While the Conservatives and the NDP called on the Liberals to do more to bring Canadians home safely, the NDP also criticized Trudeau for his failure to speak up about civilians suffering under Israel’s siege of Gaza, Tonda MacCharles reports. [Take a look at politicians’ show of solidarity with Israel](. - By the numbers: Global Affairs Canada said more than 3,234 Canadians have registered for assistance in Israel and 478 Canadians registered in Gaza and the West Bank. - On the ground: Gaza residents are facing an imminent loss of electricity, dangerously low fuel supplies and demolished neighbourhoods. [This is the state of affairs on the fifth day of the war](. - Go deeper: Some MPs want Canada to revisit its Middle Eastern policy — [raising fears it will be one-sided](. - The aftermath: Jagmeet Singh’s NDP is [preparing for a “difficult” debate](. - Meanwhile: Ontario’s NDP leader has [told an MPP to retract her statement on the war](. - Analysis: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is familiar with hostage situations. [This one comes with different risks](. Canadian Press/Chris Young greenbelt [The RCMP has launched a criminal investigation into the Greenbelt land swap]( The Royal Canadian Mounted Police branch that probes corruption and political crimes is now investigating the decision of Doug Ford’s government to remove land from the Greenbelt to be developed, Robert Benzie, Rob Ferguson and Kristin Rushowy report. The investigation follows a referral from the Ontario Provincial Police, the RCMP said in a statement Tuesday. [Take a look at the fallout from the Greenbelt land swap — and how the probe adds another stunning layer](. - Word from Queen’s Park: “We have zero tolerance for any wrongdoing and expect anyone involved in the decision-making about the Greenbelt lands to have followed the letter of the law,” the premier’s office said in a statement shortly after the Star broke the news. - Watch for: The RCMP said it would not be providing more updates “at this time” in order to protect the integrity of the investigation. - Martin Regg Cohn’s take: [Here’s why an RCMP criminal probe makes Ford’s Greenbelt nightmare so much worse](. Canadian Press/Nathan Denette courts [How did a thief pull off a $20-million gold heist at Pearson? A lawsuit reveals new details]( U.S.-based security company Brink’s International is suing Air Canada over a major heist at Pearson International Airport earlier this year, in which the company says it lost more than $20 million worth of cash and gold. The high-profile theft remains unsolved, but the lawsuit reveals new details. According to the statement of claim, which has not been tested in court, Air Canada was negligent, “failed to enlist reasonable and appropriate security measures,” and breached its contractual commitments, Ben Spurr and Mahdis Habibinia report. [Here’s how Brink’s believes the robbery unfolded](. - Word from Air Canada: The airline has not yet filed a statement of defence. A spokesperson said Tuesday it couldn’t comment on the case while it’s before the courts. - Word from police: Peel Regional Police described the robbery earlier this year as an isolated incident and “very rare.” They told the Star Tuesday that the heist is still an active investigation. WHAT ELSE Olivia Chow says the limits of social media are partly to blame for the [reason she “messed up” messaging on Israel and Gaza](. Toronto Public Health is now offering COVID-19 vaccines. [Here’s where to get the shot and who can book one](. One of the five women accusing Peter Nygard of sexual assault [described an incident she says happened when she was 16](. Toronto police are ramping up the search for a [missing 73-year-old man from Scarborough with Parkinson’s disease and dementia](. [This Vancouver man, 22, was killed]( during the Hamas assault on a music festival in Israel. [The closure of the only women’s university in the country has prompted protest.]( Toxic, plastic microfibres are everywhere in our air and water. [Experts say our laundry is to blame](. The Maple Leafs are vowing to support Pride in other ways after the [NHL banned rainbow tape on hockey sticks](. Ready for daylight saving time? [Here’s when the clocks turn and what you need to know](. General Motors and Unifor have reached a tentative deal, [ending the auto workers’ strike](. Inflation is hurting our health. [Nearly half of Canadians are eating less healthy foods due to soaring prices.]( These North York renters are on strike. [Here’s why — and what happens next](. POV Lance McMillan/The Star [Toronto’s vacant home tax once looked like an empty gesture — now it looks like a windfall.]( CLOSE-UP Ebrahim Noroozi/AP Photo AFGHANISTAN: Afghans bury hundreds of people killed in an earthquake at a burial site in a village in Zenda Jan district in Herat province on Monday. [Another strong earthquake shook the region Wednesday after the earlier quake had killed more than 2,000 people and flattened entire villages](. And before I go, Saturday’s newsletter erroneously linked to a story about Airbnbs in Toronto when it should have directed readers to [this story about young people moving out of the city](. Sorry for any confusion. Thank you for reading. You can reach me and the First Up team at [firstup@thestar.ca](mailto:firstup@thestar.ca?source=newsletter&utm_source=ts_nl&utm_medium=emailutm_email=6C53B63A8E3FAD70AD4EF13004527437&utm_campaign=frst_201439). I’ll see you back here tomorrow. If you're not enjoying these emails, please tell us how we can make them better by emailing newsletterfeedback@thestar.ca. Or, if you'd prefer, you can unsubscribe from this newsletter by clicking the first link below. [Unsubscribe From This Newsletter]( [Sign Up for More Newsletters and Email Alerts]( [View in Browser]( Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. 8 Spadina Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8. 416-367-2000 [PRIVACY POLICY](