(Montreal) The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, and the Minister of International Development, Ahmed Hussen, are in Egypt, where they are participating on Saturday and Sunday in the Cairo Peace Summit.
Around 430 Canadian nationals and their families are still stuck in Gaza, since the Hamas attack on October 7 against Israel, followed by retaliation by the Israeli army. Discussions are continuing on several fronts in order to be able to evacuate them.
Ministers Joly and Hussen will meet their counterparts and foreign officials at the Summit.
PHOTO ADRIAN WYLD, CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES
The Minister of International Development, Ahmed Hussen
“They will also exchange views with the international community on the risks that an escalation of violence poses to regional security,” specifies a press release published Saturday morning.
“Canada unequivocally condemns the terrorist attack perpetrated against Israel by Hamas and will continue to call on all parties to protect civilians and respect international humanitarian law,” said Minister Joly.
She will also meet with staff from the Canadian Embassy in Cairo to discuss efforts to support Canadians in the region, including helping Canadians leave the Gaza Strip.
Canada has granted $10 million in humanitarian aid to respond to the urgent needs generated by the crisis in Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
Ministers Mélanie Joly and Ahmed Hussen will reiterate Canada’s call for all civilians to be protected in accordance with international humanitarian law.