Canada Calling For “Humanitarian Pause” In Israel/Gaza War

Following a 3-hour Liberal cabinet retreat in Ottawa, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the Canadian government is calling for a “humanitarian pause on hostilities” to allow in much needed humanitarian aid amid Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza, and to allow Canadians & other foreign nationals to flee the war zone.

“Our priority throughout this needs to be the continued protection of innocent civilians. That’s why we’re engaged closely with our allies, trying to build humanitarian corridors,” Trudeau told reporters. Foreign Affairs minister Melanie Joly added on X: “A civilian is a civilian. We need more humanitarian aid entering Gaza, and for Canadians to be able to exit”.

On the same day, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced at the UN that the US also supported a humanitarian pause in Gaza, while UN Secretary General Antonio Gutteres has been calling for a ceasefire for over a week.

Hours before Trudeau’s announcement, Public Safety minister Bill Blair had said that, even if a ceasefire were called, he didn’t believe Hamas, which has been recognized as a terrorist organization by Canada for 21 years, would abide by it. “ I have no expectation that a terrorist organization would respect international law or any call for a ceasefire,” He said, reiterating Canada’s position that as a victim of a terrorist attack, Israel has a right to defend itself so long as that’s done in line with international laws (despite the UN, Amnesty International & other organizations condemning Israel for their violations of international law over the course of this war, including the use of white phosphorus and the withholding of water, food & electricity).

This comes less than a week after 33 MP’s, including several liberals, penned an open letter calling on Trudeau to support a ceasefire in Gaza, and as the prospect of a ceasefire has proved controversial in several western countries. In Ontario, MPP Sarah Jama was recently ejected from the ONDP caucus & censured by the legislature for her statement about the Israel/Gaza war which, among other things, called for an immediate ceasefire. In the US, White House Spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre referred to ceasefire calls by American members of Congress as “repugnant”, and most recently the US was the sole member of the UN Security Council to Veto a resolution that originally called for a ceasefire but had been softened to a “humanitarian pause”, preventing it from passing.

While the distinction is largely over semantics, a “humanitarian pause” is generally considered less formal & shorter than a full ceasefire, and its goal would likely be a short freeze to allow in aid and facilitate evacuations before a resumption of hostilities, rather than leading to efforts for a more lasting peace. Israel supporters largely believe that calls for a ceasefire at this point are too soon, and would undermine the country’s right to self-defence.

The Conservative Party has said that, even as casualties increase, Canada should “resist the temptation” to call for a ceasefire until the Israeli Defence Forces achieve its goal of defeating Hamas.