Prime Minister Mark Carney says ‘next 48 hours are crucial’ and urges Hamas to follow through on deal and release all the hostages.Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press
Prime Minister Mark Carney is lauding a U.S.-brokered peace agreement between Israel and Hamas, calling it a day for optimism.
He and Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand both praised U.S. President Donald Trump for the deal.
Israel and Hamas sign first phase of Gaza ceasefire plan
“I want to salute, of course, President Trump, whose decisive leadership has made this possible. Mr. Kushner, Mr. Witkoff, the Qataris, the Egyptians, Turkey, who have been essential to getting to this moment,” Mr. Carney told reporters on his way into a cabinet meeeting Thursday morning, referring to Jared Kushner, who is Mr. Trump’s son-in-law, and Steve Witkoff, the U.S. special envoy to the Middle East.
“The next 48 hours are crucial. We urge the parties, particularly Hamas, to follow through, release all the hostages and – including the deceased hostages.”
Ms. Anand said the deal was “long-awaited.” Her understanding was that the release of the hostages was taking place imminently, she said, and that their release is vital for the success of the peace plan.
“The future, after the release of hostages, is what is on the table right now,” she said. “There is this 20-point peace plan that we are working on to ensure that both Israel and Hamas stay at the table, to execute on the remaining points.”
Canada is advocating at all times for humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza, she added.
She also commented on the six Canadians who were part of a flotilla to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip and were detained by Israel. Canada is offering consular assistance to them, she said, and encourages all Canadians to take it.
“Sometimes our officials are on the ground, and Canadians are not accepting of that service, which is helpful in terms of allowing the process with the Israeli officials on the ground to flow more easily,” she said.
Ms. Anand said she is calling on Israeli authorities to release any detained Canadians as soon as possible.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre congratulated Mr. Trump on the deal, saying it took his leadership, diplomacy and strategy to secure it.
It’s now up to Hamas to respect its side, release the hostages, disarm itself, and allow peace to move forward, he said.
“We want Palestinians and Israelis to live in peace, prosperity and harmony, and hopefully there’s a very bright future for all of the Abrahamic peoples who cherish the holy land,” he said.
Israel and Hamas signed the first phase of the deal Thursday. It includes a plan to cease fire and free Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
The agreement is the biggest step yet to end two years of war between the two sides, which has seen more than 67,000 Palestinians killed, and return the last of the hostages seized by Hamas in the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on Israel that started it.
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand says the return of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza is imminent and a critical move for the peace plan between Israel and Hamas to continue.
The Canadian Press
With a report from Reuters