Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly is expressing concern about the urgent situation in Gaza. In her speech to the Economic Club of Canada in Toronto, she will call for humanitarian pauses in the Israel-Hamas conflict, with the aim of allowing more aid to reach the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, where over two million Palestinians reside. Additionally, Joly will advocate for the release of over 200 Israeli hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza.
There is growing concern about the escalating hostilities in the region, prompting the Canadian Armed Forces to send special forces to Canada’s embassy in Tel Aviv. The military support was requested by Global Affairs Canada to aid in preparations for potential increased tensions in the Middle East. The situation is further complicated by clashes at the Israeli-Lebanese border, which may necessitate the evacuation of Canadians from Lebanon, indicating the potential for a broader conflict.
The current conflict originated when Hamas launched attacks on Israeli civilians on October 7. In response, Israel has launched a ground offensive and has been bombarding Gaza with rockets. As time runs out, Joly’s plea for humanitarian pauses and the release of hostages highlights the urgency of the situation and the need for immediate action.