National

Joly to plead for humanitarian pauses as she says time is running out to help in Gaza

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 30 Oct, 2023 10:24 AM

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly says time is running out to help people in Gaza.

At this moment of global crises and deep uncertainty, Canada can make significant contributions to meet this challenge.

To do so, our foreign policy will be guided by two principles:

Vigorously defending our sovereignty.

Using pragmatic diplomacy.
— Mélanie Joly (@melaniejoly) October 30, 2023

In a speech to the Economic Club of Canada in Toronto this afternoon, Joly is expected to plead for humanitarian pauses in the Israel-Hamas conflict to allow more aid to get into the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, which is home to more than two million Palestinians.

Joly's speech will also urge that the more than 200 Israeli hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza must be released.

Her call comes as the Canadian Armed Forces confirms it has sent special forces to Canada's embassy in Tel Aviv, after Global Affairs Canada requested military support to help prepare for the possible escalation of hostilities in the Middle East.

The fears of a broader conflict have been exacerbated by clashes at the Israeli-Lebanese border, which officials say might lead to the need for an evacuation of Canadians from Lebanon.

The latest conflict began when Hamas militants launched brazen attacks on Israeli civilians on Oct. 7, and Israel responded with force, showering Gaza with rockets and in recent days launching a ground offensive.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Anand returns from Ukraine talks without tank deal

The Ukrainian government says it needs tanks to protect its troops and launch counter-offensives against Russian forces, particularly in the eastern part of the country. The Liberal government has not said whether Canada is open to sending some of its German-made Leopard 2 tanks.

Anand returns from Ukraine talks without tank deal

Police to release findings in B.C. bank shootout

A report released last month by B.C.'s police watchdog said officers fired as many as 100 rounds at Mathew and Isaac Auchterlonie, who had semi-automatic rifles and were wearing body armour. Six officers were wounded, three of them with life-threatening injuries.

Police to release findings in B.C. bank shootout

Richmond RCMP execute search warrant for a fake lab, seize items such as blank ID cards and numerous computers

Richmond RCMP executed a search warrant at a residence of a suspected forgery lab. Items seized during the search included high end printers and laminators including those capable of forging security features in governmental identification and thousands of blank ID cards, and numerous electronic devices and computers.

Richmond RCMP execute search warrant for a fake lab, seize items such as blank ID cards and numerous computers

B.C. promises $50M to get at fire-damaged wood

The premier says the money would be funnelled through the Forest Enhancement Society of B.C., with the goal of keeping those in the industry working. The premier says the forestry industry is "clearly in crisis" and that means industry and government need to "find new ways of doing business."

B.C. promises $50M to get at fire-damaged wood

Feds to repatriate 19 Canadians from Syria: lawyer

Family members of the women and children, as well as four men, have been arguing in Federal Court that the government must arrange for their return, saying that refusing to do so violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Feds to repatriate 19 Canadians from Syria: lawyer

No deal without pharmacare bill, says NDP leader

New Democrat Leader Jagmeet Singh says if the Liberal government does not introduce a pharmacare bill in the House of Commons this year, he will consider it a deal-breaker. Both parties signed a confidence-and-supply agreement last March, in which the NDP agreed to support the minority Liberal government in key votes until 2025.