Pan-Canadian Coalition Calls for Ceasefire in Gaza – October 26, 2023

A coalition of faith, labour and civil society organizations urges the federal government to support an immediate ceasefire of all hostilities in Israel and Palestine, and to call for an end to the blockade of Gaza. The coalition issued a joint statement with more than 100 signatories on October 21. Taking part in the news conference in Ottawa are Dania Majid (Arab Canadian Lawyers Association), Corey Balsam (Independent Jewish Voices – Canada), Céline Füri (Oxfam Québec), Éric Hebert-Daly (United Church of Canada), and Alex Silas (Public Service Alliance of Canada).

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said that Canada supports humanitarian pauses to allow more aid into Gaza, and to get civilians and foreign nationals out. Israel declared war on Hamas on October 8, 2023, one day after Hamas carried out a series of deadly attacks in that country. (no interpretation)