Defence Minister Bill Blair speaks with reporters as he makes his way to cabinet, Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023 in Ottawa. Blair says Hamas is a terrorist organization that is a threat to the whole world and must be eliminated. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
OTTAWA – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada supports the idea of “humanitarian pauses” in the Israel-Hamas conflict to allow for support and aid to be delivered into the Gaza Strip.
Trudeau made the announcement today after a three-hour cabinet meeting in Ottawa.
Just before that meeting, Defence Minister Bill Blair said he had no expectation that a terrorist organization like Hamas would abide by any calls for a ceasefire.
A humanitarian pause is being billed as a temporary halt to ensure aid can get into Gaza safely, and to allow people to leave the blockaded territory.
The United Nations agency providing relief work in the Gaza Strip says since the latest conflict began on Oct. 7, 35 of its aid workers have been killed.
More than a million people have been displaced in the Hamas-controlled Palestinian territory, where they face shortages of food, water and fuel after Israel cut off access to supplies and launched airstrikes in response to deadly attacks by Hamas militants.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 24, 2023.
