
Tensions continue to escalate over the conflict between Israel and Hamas as Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, convened a meeting with representatives from the opposition parties to deliberate about the ongoing war and the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza.
The meeting orchestrated on a Thursday saw the presence of leaders from several parties, which included Michael Chong, Conservative MP and foreign affairs critic, who stepped in on behalf of the Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre who is currently stationed in Nova Scotia. Other notable attendees were Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-Francois Blanchet and NDP leader Jagmeet Singh.
The focus of these discussions was to chart out a strategic plan to ensure the extraction of Canadians who are presently stranded in Gaza. Describing the meeting’s tone as ‘candid,’ Blanchet stated that it had provided him with a better comprehension of Canada’s global stance and a more lucid perspective of the existing situation on the confrontation site.
Trudeau’s convocation occurred four days post a letter from Singh wherein he urged the Canadian government to demand a ceasefire, following the ambush by Hamas on Israel that sparked the current conflict on October 7. Trudeau, however, has proposed extended ‘humanitarian pauses’ that would facilitate the delivery of essential medical supplies and aid to Gaza and provide a possibility for Canadians and other foreign nationals to safely exit the war zone.
The prime minister sidestepped a direct response when queried about his agreement with the UN’s portrayal of the breaches of international laws in Gaza. However, he did express that Canada is encroaching on Israel to exhibit extreme caution in order to ensure the safeguarding of civilian lives in their pursuit of Hamas.
Trudeau expressed his deep concern as a prime minister over the war’s impact on Canadians and empathized with the gamut of emotions sweeping through the country. “People are grieving, people are angry, people are hurt, people are worried for their loved ones,” he said.
All the same, he stressed the importance of the country’s values and its commitment to fostering unity as the Middle East crisis continues to evolve. The prime minister voiced his determination in continuing to work collaboratively with parliamentary leaders to consolidate unity in these trying times.