Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand speaking at UNGA
“Immediately, the scope of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is catastrophic and requires urgent action,” Anand stated.
She noted that malnutrition-related deaths are rising and that the UN has formally declared famine in the besieged territory, which has been under a deadly Israeli blockade for nearly eight months.
Anand said Canada has “committed over $340 million in humanitarian aid, and our Canadian Armed Forces have participated in airdrops” in Gaza.
“We call on Israel to help protect the civilian population in Gaza, to open land corridors for unimpeded access to humanitarian aid at scale, and ensure that healthcare facilities are fully protected,” she added.
Anand warned that prospects for a two-state solution are eroding, pointing to Israel’s rapid illegal settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank.
“The two-state solution is eroding, as evidenced by Israel’s illegal expansion of West Bank settlements,” she said, citing data from the Israeli watchdog Peace Now, which described the expansion as the most extensive in more than 30 years, drastically reshaping the region and deepening the occupation.
She reaffirmed Canada’s recognition of the State of Palestine on 21 September, describing it as consistent with Ottawa’s longstanding support for Palestinian self-determination.
“Canada’s recognition last week reflects longstanding Canadian policy, based on the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and our commitment to a two-state solution, a future where Israelis and Palestinians live side by side in peace and security,” she said.
The Canadian foreign minister voiced support for diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire and revive political negotiations.
“We support partners who continue their efforts to reach a ceasefire as soon as possible and to contribute to the political processes that must follow,” she said.
“Canada will participate in these processes in every way that we can. We are committed to strengthening the capacity of the Palestinian Authority (PA) and working collaboratively with our partners in the region.”
Annad's remarks came as diplomatic efforts to end Israel’s nearly two-year war on Gaza gathered pace, with US President Donald Trump scheduled to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington later on Monday.
The Trump administration has been pushing to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas to end Tel Aviv's genocidal war on Gaza, where the Israeli army has killed over 66,000 Palestinians and injured more than 168,000, most of them women and children.
Israel’s genocide in the strip has deepened its isolation, straining ties with Washington, and prompting several Western governments, including Britain, France, Australia and Canada, to break with long-held US policy by formally recognizing Palestine.
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