Trudeau urges pause in Israel-Hamas conflict, backs ‘sustainable ceasefire’
Global News
The joint statement from Trudeau, Australia's Anthony Albanese and New Zealand's Christopher Luxon says there is no place for Hamas in the future governance of Gaza.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is calling for a resumption of a pause in the Israel-Hamas conflict, and says Canada supports efforts “towards a sustainable ceasefire.”
This comes from a joint statement issued Tuesday from Trudeau and his Australian and New Zealand counterparts.
The United Nations General Assembly is voting on a motion to call for an immediate ceasefire.
The statement goes on to say that it recognizes Israel’s right to defend itself in the wake of the deadly Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas that Israel says killed 1,200 people and in which 240 people were taken hostage.
“In defending itself, Israel must respect international humanitarian law. Civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected. We are alarmed at the diminishing safe space for civilians in Gaza,” the statement says. “The price of defeating Hamas cannot be the continuous suffering of all Palestinian civilians.”
Gaza’s Hamas-run Health Ministry says more than 17,480 people have been killed in the conflict since.
The joint statement from Trudeau, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says there is no place for Hamas in the future governance of Gaza.
Trudeau has previously backed a “humanitarian pause” along with other western leaders in order to get aid into the Palestinian territory.