Israel-Hamas hostage agreement ‘progress toward lasting peace’: Trudeau

TRENTON, Canada

The return of Israeli hostages and the temporary suspension of hostilities between Israel and Hamas are steps toward eventual peace, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Wednesday.

“This is an important bit of progress, but we have to redouble our efforts now to get toward a lasting peace,” Trudeau told reporters on Parliament Hill.

Under the humanitarian pause and hostage deal brokered with the help of Egypt, Qatar and the US, 50 hostages held by the Palestinian group Hamas will be released over four days, with Israel handing over 150 Palestinians.

Israel also offered to extend the truce by an additional day for every 10 hostages set free, while Hamas said it will allow hundreds of truckloads of humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. The deal is expected to be honored Thursday.

“Rapid, sustained and unimpeded access to humanitarian relief remains critical,” Trudeau said in a statement on the prime minister’s website. “Much more is needed to address the dire humanitarian situation and urgent needs of innocent Palestinian civilians in Gaza.

“Canada has already committed (CAN)$60 million (US$43.8 million) in funding to trusted partners for humanitarian relief, and we stand ready to provide additional support.”

Trudeau said news of the deal was a major topic of the G-20 virtual summit held Wednesday morning.

The prime minister also hoped the deal would lead to Canadians and citizens of other countries being allowed to leave Gaza.

Trudeau said both Israelis and Palestinians have the “right to live in peace, security and dignity, without fear.”

“We will continue to support a two-state solution where a peaceful, prosperous and safe Palestinian state thrives alongside a peaceful, prosperous and safe state of Israel.”