OTTAWA — Canada on Friday welcomed the first phase of an Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement and pledged to explore all avenues to solidify peace, including helping to govern a future Palestinian state. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand told reporters that Ottawa stands ready to work “with partners in the region” on a prompt ceasefire and the political steps that follow. She noted Canada’s long-standing backing of a two-state solution and said Ottawa will “participate in these processes in every way that we can.”
The breakthrough deal, brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump with Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey mediating, calls for Hamas to release Israeli hostages in exchange for Israeli forces pulling back. President Trump hailed it as a “historic and unprecedented” step, promising that “ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon” and thanking mediators for their role. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it “a big day for Israel,” thanking “from the bottom of my heart” the U.S. for the “sacred mission” of freeing the hostages. In Tel Aviv, crowds gathered in jubilation, waving Israeli and American flags, as families dared to hope for the safe return of their loved ones.
Anand’s comments come amid intense international diplomacy. In New York this month, Prime Minister Mark Carney led Canada to formally recognize the State of Palestine as part of a coordinated push for peace. Carney emphasized that this move “is firmly aligned with the principles of self-determination” and “does in no way compromise Canada’s steadfast support for the State of Israel, its people, and their security.” He warned that Hamas must disarm and “play no role in the future governance of Palestine” before any peace can hold. Anand echoed that stance in Ottawa, stressing that Canada will work with allies to ensure “Hamas has no role in the future governance of Palestine.”
Ottawa also underscored its commitment to humanitarian relief. A recent Global Affairs Canada report noted that Canada has pledged over C$355 million in aid for Palestinian civilians since the conflict began, including a fresh $30 million announced last month for emergency assistance in Gaza and the West Bank. Anand and other ministers have repeatedly called for unrestricted aid deliveries. In July, Anand told the UN that she will support large-scale aid operations and the resumption of basic services in Gaza once conditions allow. On Friday, she reiterated the need for “sustained and large-scale” humanitarian access and the unconditional release of all remaining hostages.
World leaders also greeted the ceasefire with cautious optimism. U.S. allies praised the deal as a step toward ending a devastating two-year war. Britain’s new Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the pause brings “a moment of profound relief…for the civilian population of Gaza, who have endured unimaginable suffering over the last two years.” French President Emmanuel Macron stressed that the agreement should “mark the end of the war and the beginning of a political solution based on the two-state solution,” and said France will work with international partners to achieve that goal. United Nations and humanitarian officials vowed to scale up aid: WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said “the best medicine is peace” and that his agency is ready to meet Gaza’s dire health needs under the truce.
Some regional actors offered support as well. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, whose country helped broker the deal, said Turkey will “closely monitor” its implementation and hoped to “take part in a task force” overseeing the ceasefire. Egypt’s foreign minister said the deal could “herald the end of a dark and painful chapter” in the region. Canada has said it is prepared to contribute to international efforts in Gaza. Anand pointed out that proposals from Arab and European states for a multinational stabilization force in Gaza remain “under discussion,” but noted Canada could lend its development expertise to rebuilding governance and infrastructure in a future Palestinian state.
For now, the ceasefire’s success will depend on implementation. Israel began withdrawing troops from parts of Gaza on Saturday, and Hamas is expected to release about 20 living hostages to Red Cross custody under the terms of the deal. Thousands of displaced Gazans cautiously began returning home, digging through rubble in once-battered towns. Netanyahu has vowed that, even as hostages come home, Israel will continue its goal of disarming Hamas and securing its borders.
At home, Canadian officials have been active diplomatically. Foreign Affairs Minister Anand spoke by phone this week with leaders from India and Egypt to coordinate aid routes into Gaza. Parliamentarians of all major parties have largely rallied behind the ceasefire. Last week, Anand reaffirmed in international forums that Canada stands against Hamas’s actions and “does not retreat from its duty” to pursue peace and uphold international law.
This article is based on verified information from Reuters, The Canadian Press, and official Canadian government releases