Defence Minister Bill Blair says Hamas is a terrorist organization that is a threat to the whole world and must be "eliminated."
Blair also says he has no expectation that Hamas would respect international law, including any agreement on a ceasefire.
His comments are the furthest any Canadian minister has gone in explaining why Canada does not support calls for a ceasefire.
The defence minister also appeared unwilling to back more recent calls for a "humanitarian pause," but says there are talks underway to get more aid into the Gaza Strip.
Since October 12, the @CanadianForces transported approximately 1,600 people out of Israel on 19 flights.
— Bill Blair (@BillBlair) October 23, 2023
Canada continues to monitor the situation, and we are working tirelessly to help Canadians.
If you need urgent consular assistance, please contact sos@international.gc.ca
More than one million Palestinians have been displaced in Gaza since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, and they face shortages of food, water and fuel.
European foreign ministers agreed Monday that a temporary halt to fighting was needed to get aid into Gaza and French President Emmanuel Macron is in Israel pushing for such a pause today.
