Prime Minister Justin Trudeau welcomed news of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas on Wednesday, saying the focus should now shift to ensuring a two-state solution.
“Canada stands ready to do everything we can to ensure the success of this agreement,” Trudeau told reporters at a news conference unrelated to Canadian prime ministers.
“This ceasefire gives us hope for a real and lasting political solution to this conflict – a two-state solution where Israelis and Palestinians live side by side in safety, security and dignity. I hope we can now focus our attention on that.” Said.
The agreement comes after Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel left more than 1,200 people dead and about 250 taken hostage, more than 15 months into the war that has killed more than 46,000 Palestinians. It was concluded later.
Canada has long called for a ceasefire, the return of hostages and urgent humanitarian aid. This country joins Australia and New Zealand called for a ceasefire in JulyHe said countries were “unambiguous in condemning Hamas” but that Gaza’s civilians “cannot be made to pay the price”.
Canada too last year voted in favor of a non-binding UN resolution It calls for a humanitarian moratorium, marking a shift from the long-standing practice of voting with Israel on major U.N. resolutions.
The agreement was concluded after months of on-again, off-again negotiations by Egyptian and Qatari intermediaries, with support from the United States.
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said at a press conference on Wednesday in Doha, where negotiations were taking place, that the deal would come into force on Sunday.
Israel and Hamas have reached an agreement calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the gradual release of hostages taken in the deadly October 7 attack, a mediator said on Wednesday, Reuters and the Associated Press reported. Announced.
The complex agreement outlines a six-week initial ceasefire phase and includes a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. are.
The first phase of the 42-day agreement includes the release of 33 Israeli hostages, including women, children and all men over 50.
Negotiations on the implementation of the second phase are expected to begin by the end of the first phase on the 16th, and include the release of all remaining hostages, a permanent ceasefire, and a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
The third phase, under the supervision of Egypt, Qatar and the United Nations, will work to return all bodies and begin rebuilding Gaza.
After a “breakthrough” in late-night talks attended by special envoys from both outgoing US President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump, officials briefed on the negotiations told Reuters that mediators presented the final draft of the agreement to Israel and Hamas on Monday.
Biden confirmed the ceasefire agreement on Wednesday, adding that all American hostages would be released in the first phase of the ceasefire.
“The fighting in Gaza has stopped and the hostages will soon be returned to their families,” he said.
Israel has announced that about 100 hostages are still being held in the Gaza Strip, but it is unclear how many are still alive.
The Gaza Health Ministry said the Israeli attack killed more than 46,000 Palestinians, making it the deadliest war in the decades-long conflict between the two countries. Israeli military operations have forced most of the Gaza Strip’s 2.3 million residents from their homes and left much of the coastal enclave in ruins, including its medical infrastructure.
