Calls for ceasefire intensify: Canada stands with Biden’s plan

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reiterated Canada’s call for an immediate ceasefire, an urgent increase in unhindered humanitarian assistance, and the release of all hostages.

Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly described the level of human suffering from the Israel-Hamas conflict as catastrophic and emphasized the need for it to end.

“Canada has been calling for an immediate ceasefire for months – the violence must stop. Hostages must be released, and Hamas must lay down its weapons,” she also wrote. “Unimpeded humanitarian relief must be provided to Palestinian civilians,” wrote Joly.

Biden had earlier stated that Israel presented the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, with a three-phase deal that would end hostilities in the besieged Gaza Strip and secure the release of hostages held in the coastal enclave.

The US president appealed to Hamas to accept the deal and urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to stave off pressure from members of his governing coalition who are opposed to the plan.

More than 36,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since Israel began its onslaught nearly eight months ago. The majority of those killed have been women and children, with more than 82,000 others injured, according to local health authorities.

The Hamas-led attack on October 7 killed fewer than 1,200 people.

Vast swathes of Gaza lie in ruins amid Israel’s crippling blockade of food, clean water, and medicine.

Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which in its latest ruling has ordered Tel Aviv to immediately halt its operation in Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians had sought refuge from the war.