ISTANBUL 

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Monday welcomed the release of 20 Israeli hostages from Gaza, calling it "a moment of profound relief."

Hamas released the living hostages under the first phase of US President Donald Trump's plan to end the two-year Israeli war in Gaza.

Carney extended Canada's gratitude to the US, Egypt, Qatar, and Türkiye "for their tireless efforts to make this vital progress possible."

He said the hostage release "must be a turning point toward lasting peace," calling on parties to implement the terms of the agreement, including Israeli troop withdrawal and allowing sustained humanitarian assistance into Gaza "without delay."

Carney commended Trump's "essential leadership in advancing" the plan, urging parties to continue engaging "constructively."

Last week, Trump announced that Israel and Hamas had agreed to the first phase of a plan he laid out on Sept. 29 to bring a ceasefire to Gaza, release all Israeli captives in exchange for around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, and a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the entire Gaza Strip.

Phase two of the plan calls for the establishment of a new governing mechanism in Gaza, without Hamas’ participation, the formation of a multinational force, and the disarmament of Hamas.

Since October 2023, Israeli attacks have killed over 67,800 Palestinians in the enclave, most of them women and children, and rendered it largely uninhabitable.