Prime Minister Mark Carney has called Israel’s denial of humanitarian aid in Gaza a violation of international law.
In a news statement on Thursday, he pressed for Israel’s control of aid distribution to be replaced amid reports of mass starvation in Gaza.
His statement comes hours after French President Emmanuel Macron announced on X that he intends for his country to recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly in September.
“Israel’s control of aid distribution must be replaced by comprehensive provision of humanitarian assistance led by international organizations,” Carney said in a media statement Thursday evening. “Many of these are holding significant Canadian-funded aid which has been blocked from delivery to starving civilians.”
“This denial of humanitarian aid is a violation of international law,” he said.
Carney reiterated that Canada supports a two-state solution “which guarantees peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians.”
Israel condemned Macron’s announcement made on X, in which he shared a letter sent to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas confirming France’s intention to press ahead and work to convince other partners to follow suit.
“True to its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognize the State of Palestine,” Macron said.
“I will make this solemn announcement at the United Nations General Assembly next September.”
Joint statement calls Gaza aid distribution ‘dangerous’
Earlier on Thursday, federal Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said that she would attend a two-state solution conference in New York City, where she will meet with her French counterparts to discuss Macron’s decision.
“We need to ensure that Hamas lays down its arms and does not participate in any way in the governance of an eventual two-state solution,” she said, noting that ensuring that humanitarian aid flows and that hostages are released are important for Canadians.
Anand and 24 of her counterparts abroad signed a joint statement on Monday, calling Israel’s aid distribution system “dangerous” and asserting that “the war in Gaza must end now.”
The signatories, including foreign ministers of France, Japan and the U.K. and the European Union commissioner for equality, preparedness and crisis management, said it’s “horrifying that over 800 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid.”
The death toll cited is based on figures released by the UN Human Rights Office.
In their statement, the ministers also condemned Hamas for continuing to hold Israeli hostages captured in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack and called for their immediate release.
