Canada will be committing $30 million in aid for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, along with $10 million to support the Palestinian Authority’s role in governance of the West Bank, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand says.
Anand made the announcement July 28 at U.N. talks in New York, referred to as the “United Nations High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution.”
Speaking at the conference, Anand reiterated calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid, and the release of all hostages held by Hamas.
“A workable Palestinian state needs legitimate, democratic governance that serves all Palestinian people,” Anand said at the conference, adding that the Palestinian Authority’s “commitment to undertake the comprehensive reforms necessary” to govern Gaza and the West Bank is “crucially important.”
The Palestinian Authority currently rules the West Bank. Anand has said that any future Palestinian state would not be supported by Canada until Hamas is completely removed from power in Gaza and all hostages are released.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on July 24 that France will recognize Palestine statehood when the U.N. General Assembly reconvenes in September. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas called France’s move “a victory for the Palestinian cause,” while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned Macron’s decision, saying “the Palestinians do not seek a state alongside Israel; they seek a state instead of Israel.”
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer joined Macron’s call July 29, saying his country will also recognize Palestinian statehood this September unless Israel immediately moves toward a ceasefire in Gaza, promises there will be no “annexation in the West Bank” and commits to a two-state solution.
France and the UK would be the first G7 nations to recognize Palestinian statehood. Approximately three-quarters of the U.N.’s 193 members currently recognize Palestine as a state.
Anand said any potential Palestinian state must exclude Hamas from any role and include the immediate release of all hostages held by the terrorist group. She said the $10 million funding announcement for the Palestinian Authority is centred on “reform and capacity-building” to improve its governance of the West Bank.
“Canada’s commitment to a two-state solution is rooted in our desire to see the Palestinian people living with freedom and dignity and to see Israelis live in peace and security also,” Anand said. “This path is not only the most just course, it is the only sustainable one.”
In addition to chairing a working group on peace with Mexico and Qatar at the summit, Anand has met with other foreign ministers and officials at the conference, including from Norway, France, Brazil, Chile, Egypt and the Palestinian Authority.
Gaza Aid
After 21 months of combat operations in Gaza, international organizations have said serious food shortages and lack of access to potable water is impacting civilians living in the region. A July 23 letter signed by more than 100 international aid groups said there is growing hunger and distress among civilians in Gaza. It also cited concerns that aid workers could be murdered while travelling to aid distribution points in Gaza.Israel said aid not reaching Gazans is due to the U.N. not allowing enough supplies in and not efficiently delivering aid. The U.N. said deliveries have been hampered by factors such as Israel not facilitating them, or facing violence and looting inside the Gaza Strip.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on July 28 that “real starvation” is occurring in Gaza and promised to open American “food centres” in the territory.
“The humanitarian situation in Gaza is disastrous,” Anand said. “Numerous Palestinians are dying from hunger, they’re killed as they’re trying to obtain food and water or during the military operation which resulted in numerous victims. And those who survive are exposed to avoidable disease and death. This is unacceptable.”
According to a July 29 statement from Global Affairs, the majority of the $30 million will bolster “logistical operations” in the Jordanian corridor, help the U.N. and partner organizations to get more aid into Gaza, as well as support Jordan’s government in ensuring Canadian aid supplies reach Gaza. The July 28 announcement brings total Canadian aid for Palestinian civilians to more than $355 million since October 2023.
“Canada’s humanitarian assistance funding is largely flexible and unearmarked. It covers a range of sectors, with an emphasis on helping deliver emergency health care, food, shelter and clean water to vulnerable populations,” Global Affairs noted, adding “Canada is also supporting protection work, including emergency rehabilitation for people disabled by the conflict, psychosocial support and gender-based violence prevention.”
In addition to the increased aid and political stability funding announced July 28, Canada has previously committed to $20 million in funding through the World Health Organization (WHO), UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and UNICEF to rebuild basic health-care access for Palestinians once conditions on the ground permit.
Israel’s war against Hamas began after the terror group launched attacks into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing more than 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals and taking 251 hostages.
Ceasefire talks broke down on July 24, with U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff saying Hamas was not “acting in good faith” in the negotiations. Hamas has reciprocated the accusation afterward.
The U.N. talks in New York are scheduled to end July 30.
The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
