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

B.C. school support staff have tentative deal

The Finance Ministry says the deal is between the Public School Employers' Association and school presidents' councils representing 57 locals of the Canadian Union of Public Employees.

B.C. school support staff have tentative deal

VPD seizes cache of weapons from Hastings Street tent encampment

VPD patrol officers launched a criminal investigation earlier this week after receiving information illicit drugs and weapons were being stored inside a tent near Main and Hastings. 5 people were arrested. The investigation remains ongoing.

VPD seizes cache of weapons from Hastings Street tent encampment

Parole extended for Victoria killer 25 years later

A Parole Board of Canada decision says 40-year-old Kerry Sim, who was formerly known as Kelly Ellard, has been authorized to remain on day parole but with numerous conditions. Sim was 15 years old when she and a group of teenagers swarmed and beat Virk, and her trial heard she and a co-accused later followed the 14-year-old girl to continue the beating and drown her in the Gorge waterway.

Parole extended for Victoria killer 25 years later

B.C. premier stresses more collaboration in speech

Horgan told local elected leaders at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention that he wasn't there to make splashy funding announcements, which he called lolly, but rather to start or continue collaborative initiatives aimed at bringing results.

B.C. premier stresses more collaboration in speech

Altercation between youth groups results in youth being stabbed in Newton

Police say they are working to identify two suspects, they are described as South Asian youths believed to be between 15 and 17 years old, who left the area before police arrived. They say one of the suspects may have sustained superficial injures during the altercation.

Altercation between youth groups results in youth being stabbed in Newton

Search warrant at a Surrey convenience store leads to seizure of fentanyl and large amount of cash

On August 30, 2022, Surrey RCMP Drug Unit executed a search warrant at a convenience store located in the 10200-block of City Parkway. Investigation lead the police to believe that the business was being used to facilitate drug trafficking in the area.