London — A delegation of Arab and Turkish foreign ministers visited the Canadian capital on Saturday to emphasize the urgent need for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
The delegation, led by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, was received by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Ottawa. The officials engaged in talks with Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly to address the escalating conflict in Gaza.
The discussions primarily focused on the recent developments in Gaza and the severe consequences faced by the Palestinian population due to Israel’s military escalation. In an official statement, the Saudi Foreign Ministry highlighted the delegation’s call for the international community to promptly assume its responsibility in protecting civilians.
They emphasized that any discussions regarding Gaza’s future and the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict should only take place after an immediate ceasefire and the cessation of unwarranted military aggression.
The delegation stressed the crucial need for the establishment of relief corridors to facilitate the delivery of urgent humanitarian, food, and medical aid to Gaza. Additionally, they emphasized that political conditions must be created to pave the way for the establishment of a Palestinian state. The delegation firmly rejected any attempts to isolate Gaza’s future from the wider Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the UN Security Council’s failure to pass a resolution calling for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the ministers voiced their concern over the expanding scope of deliberate attacks carried out by Israeli forces against Palestinian civilians. They further condemned the repeated violations of international law in the region.
Prior to their visit to Canada, the delegation met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, following the United States’ veto of the resolution. The foreign ministers from Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the Palestinian Authority collectively expressed their disappointment with the Security Council’s inability to reach a consensus.
Health officials in the besieged enclave of Gaza reported that the death toll has now surpassed 17,700, with women and children accounting for 70 percent of the fatalities. Moreover, more than 46,000 individuals have been wounded in the ongoing conflict. The majority of Gaza’s population, which exceeds 2 million people, have been forcibly displaced from their homes as a result of the hostilities.
The visit of the Arab and Turkish foreign ministers to Canada underscores the pressing need for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The delegation’s call for the international community to protect civilians and provide vital humanitarian assistance reflects the gravity of the situation.
