National

Canada's defence minister says Hamas a threat to world, must be 'eliminated'

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 24 Oct, 2023 09:51 AM

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.

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
— Bill Blair (@BillBlair) October 23, 2023

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.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Slow housing market: REBGV

Vancouver's housing market is on track to see slowing sales and price stabilization. The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver says that's because of higher borrowing costs combined with seasonal patterns.

Slow housing market: REBGV

Langley crash sends 1 to hospital

On Tuesday just before 3:00 am, Langley RCMP received reports of an impaired driver operating a red motorcycle in the 20300 block of Fraser Highway. As officers were arriving to the area a witness directed them to Logan Avenue near 200 Street where the driver was found lying on the side of the rode and a red motorcycle was in the ditch.

Langley crash sends 1 to hospital

Church fire in Chilliwack

Fire investigators in Chilliwack are sifting through the charred debris of a church as they try to determine what sparked the blaze that gutted the building. Flames broke out at the Cross Connection Church just before three yesterday afternoon.

Church fire in Chilliwack

Canada's promised Indo-Pacific trade representative to be based in Jakarta: Mary Ng

Canada will open an export development office in Jakarta and has named an Indo-Pacific trade representative to help Canadian businesses enter new markets in the region, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Tuesday while in Indonesia.

Canada's promised Indo-Pacific trade representative to be based in Jakarta: Mary Ng

Students head back to school as heat warnings blanket Central Canada

The government of British Columbia has said no schools were damaged by the fires that tore through parts of the province, but that doesn't mean students will be unaffected. The flames passed close by some schools in Kelowna, B.C., leaving destruction in their wake.

Students head back to school as heat warnings blanket Central Canada

Weekend weather in central B.C. causes 'very aggressive' fire activity

British Columbia's wildfire service says long weekend weather conditions caused "very aggressive fire activity" on several active blazes in the province's central fire zone. The service says the area covering the Vanderhoof and Fort St. James fire zone saw less humidity than expected, coupled with hot temperatures and strong winds over the long weekend.