Prime Minister Justin Trudeau supports a proposal presented Friday by American President Joe Biden which aims to end the war between Israel and Hamas.
“Canada calls for an immediate ceasefire, an increase in humanitarian aid and the release of hostages,” recalled Mr. Trudeau in a message published on the social network X.
“The proposal of [Joe Biden] is an opportunity to put an end to suffering and return to the path of peace. All parties must seize it. »
Canada calls for an immediate ceasefire, increased humanitarian aid and the release of hostages. The proposal of @POTUS is an opportunity to put an end to suffering and return to the path of peace. All parties must seize it.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) June 1, 2024
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, also spoke about Canada’s position on Friday evening. “Canada has been demanding an immediate ceasefire for months — the violence must stop,” she said in a message posted on X.
“The human suffering caused by the war between Israel and Hamas is catastrophic,” she lamented, adding that this agreement charted “a path towards an irreversible two-state solution”.
President Biden detailed a three-phase deal proposed by Israel to Hamas militants that he said from the White House could be “a road map to a lasting ceasefire and the release of all hostages “.
He said Hamas was no longer capable of carrying out another large-scale attack against Israel, similar to the October 7 assault that sparked hostilities.
Three phases
Biden said the first phase of the proposed deal would last six weeks and include a “total and complete ceasefire,” a withdrawal of Israeli forces from all densely populated areas of Gaza and the liberation of a a number of hostages, including women, the elderly and the wounded, in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
The American hostages would be released at this point and the remains of the killed hostages would be returned to their families. Humanitarian aid would increase in the first phase, with 600 trucks allowed into Gaza daily.
The second phase would include the release of all remaining hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
“And as long as Hamas respects its commitments, the temporary ceasefire will become, in the terms of the Israeli proposal, ‘the definitive cessation of hostilities’,” Mr. Biden said.
The third phase calls for the start of major reconstruction of Gaza, which will take decades to rebuild due to the devastation caused by the war.
The Israeli proposal was transmitted to Hamas on Thursday.
Joe Biden’s remarks come as the Israeli military confirmed its forces are now operating in central parts of Rafah as part of its offensive in the southern Gaza city. The US president called the moment “decisive”.
Israel faces growing international criticism for its strategy of systematic destruction of Gaza, which is causing enormous casualties. Israeli bombings and ground offensives in the besieged territory have killed more than 36,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health ministry. The ministry does not distinguish between combatants and civilians in its count.
Israel launched its war in Gaza after an unprecedented Hamas raid in southern Israel on October 7, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 hostages. Israel says around 100 hostages remain captive in Gaza, along with the bodies of around 30 more.