Ottawa, 31 October 2023 (TDI): On Monday, Canada’s Foreign Minister reiterated her plea for a humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza conflict, stressing the urgent need to evacuate Canadians and hostages while delivering vital aid.
Melanie Joly addressed the situation, highlighting the dire predicament of 400 Canadians trapped in Gaza, living in fear and desperation. She called for a collective agreement among all parties to secure the safe passage of foreign nationals, including Canadians.
Moreover, she stressed the release of all hostages, and the unimpeded delivery of essential supplies like food, fuel, and water to Gaza.
The ongoing ground operations in Gaza by Israel have led to widespread international appeals for a ‘humanitarian pause’ to allow aid to reach those in need.
However, on Sunday, people in Gaza resorted to raiding aid stores in search of sustenance.
Additionally, more than 200 hostages are held by Hamas since the attacks in Israel on October 7th, resulting in 1,400 casualties.
Minister Joly revealed continuous diplomatic efforts, stating that she has been in contact with Qatar, Israel, Egypt, and the United States daily over the past three weeks.
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In her comprehensive speech, Minister Joly also addressed the tensions with India, which arose when Canada implicated Indian agents in the murder of a Sikh separatist leader, who was also a Canadian citizen, in British Columbia.
Joly acknowledged that the Canada-India relationship is currently facing a challenging period and emphasized the government’s commitment to making the allegations public.
Furthermore, Canada is actively engaged with the Indian government on this matter and underscored the enduring ties between the two nations, built over decades and rooted in the strong connections between their peoples,” she added.
