NEW YORK: Canada on Monday called on Israel to open land corridors for unimpeded access to humanitarian aid at scale in Gaza.
Speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York, Canada’s Foreign Minister Anita Anand also called on Israel to protect the civilian population and health care facilities in the Palestinian enclave.
Canada recognized Palestine last week, marking a shift from its long-standing position that statehood should be the result of a negotiated settlement.
The decision was announced alongside the UK and Australia, with Canada saying the two-state solution was no longer tenable without this action.
“Canada recognizes the state of Palestine and offers our partnership in building the promise of a peaceful future,” Prime Minister Mark Carney wrote on X at the time.
Anand said last week’s recognition “reflects long-standing Canadian policy, based on the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and our commitment to a two-state solution, a future where Israelis and Palestinians live side by side in peace and security.”
The two-state solution is eroding, “as is evident in Israel’s illegal expansion of West Bank settlements,” she added.
Canada has committed over $340 million in humanitarian aid to Gaza, and its military has participated in air drops, Anand said.
She expressed support for partners in the region “who continue their efforts to reach a ceasefire as soon as possible and to contribute to the political processes that must follow. Canada will participate in these processes in every way that we can.”
She added: “We’re committed to efforts to strengthen the capacity of the Palestinian Authority, working collaboratively with partners in the region.”
Anand condemned as “horrific” the Hamas attack on Israel of Oct. 7, 2023, and called the group an “impediment to peace.”
She added: “Canada calls on Hamas to lay down its weapons and to release all remaining hostages immediately. The scope of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is catastrophic and requires urgent action.”
