Canada providing $10M in humanitarian aid to address 'urgent needs' in Israel and Gaza: Trudeau
Canada will be providing an initial $10 million in humanitarian assistance to address "urgent needs" in Israel and the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
Amid the dire situation, the new funding will provide life-saving supports, including food, water, emergency medical assistance, and protection services, according to the federal government.
"We're working around the clock to support you, we will continue to follow the situation as it evolves, and continue our efforts with international partners," Trudeau said, speaking in Yellowknife.
While Trudeau spoke about the impact the "horrific devastation" the ongoing Israel-Hamas war is having both at home, and abroad, he repeatedly dodged questions from reporters over whether he agrees with a warning from the United Nations that Israel is violating international humanitarian law.
The prime minister condemned Hamas' "terrorist attacks against Israel" and validated Israel's right to defend itself in accordance with international law.
"There is no question that Hamas is a terrorist organization that has brutally murdered innocent civilians, that has chosen to invade Israel... And on top of that, has taken hostages in a total and flagrant violation of all international laws and norms," he said.
"That is why we need to continue to work with international communities and allies to try and find a way to protect all civilians through this."
The prime minister also made a point on Thursday of stating Hamas "does not represent the Palestinian people," nor Arabs or Muslims.
"Israeli and Palestinian civilians deserve to live in peace and security, in dignity, and with their human rights respected," Trudeau said.
"We continue to look for ways to support civilians, both Palestinians and Israelis, and ensure that as many civilians as possible are kept safe during this terrible conflict."
WHERE IS AID GOING?
Minister of International Development of Canada Ahmed Hussen said the new money comes in response to appeals from "experienced and trusted humanitarian partners," and will be going to a series of organizations, such as the Canadian Red Cross, the Palestine Red Crescent Society and Magen David Adom.
"This initial funding commitment will allow partners to scale up their efforts and provide assistance to people in urgent need. We continue to call for safe and unrestricted humanitarian access to be allowed throughout the region," said Hussen in a statement.
Earlier this week, the federal government said it still planned to send humanitarian aid to Gaza and the West Bank, where officials say roughly 264,000 Palestinians have been internally displaced.
Hussen's office has said it will ensure that none of the funds will end up in the hands of Hamas, pointing to the "enhanced due diligence" and anti-terrorism exercises undertaken in allocating Canadian aid funding.
Asked during a technical briefing specifically how Canada can make such guarantees, senior officials speaking on a not-for-attribution, officials said there is a "strict regime" to ensure no funding ends up in the hands of the declared terrorist organization.
WHAT IS SITUATION IN GAZA?
Israel has stopped sending supplies to civilians in Gaza, including cutting access to water and power. This prompted the UN to warn the move is in violation of international humanitarian law, for blocking access to the essentials of life.
The International Committee of the Red Cross asked Thursday for Hamas and Israeli officials to allow a neutral party humanitarian access to Gaza to provide essential aid and facilitate communication between hostages and their families, The Associated Press reported Thursday.
Senior Canadian officials said they are watching the deteriorating humanitarian situation with grave concern, and are closely monitoring efforts from the United Nations to de-escalate and facilitate supports, such as the incoming Canadian aid, to enter the area.
So far, Canada has no plans to begin evacuations for the approximately 280 of Canadians that have reached out for federal assistance from Gaza or the West Bank.
While still exploring what's possible, including a ground transportation option from the West Bank into Jordan, given there is no humanitarian corridor, officials said assisted departures from Gaza are not possible right now.
"We are working very hard with all of our allies, and friends and partners who want to see peace returned to the region, want to see civilian lives protected. This is an unbelievably difficult situation," Trudeau said.
IN DEPTH
Jagmeet Singh pulls NDP out of deal with Trudeau Liberals, takes aim at Poilievre Conservatives
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has pulled his party out of the supply-and-confidence agreement that had been helping keep Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's minority Liberals in power.
'Not the result we wanted': Trudeau responds after surprise Conservative byelection win in Liberal stronghold
Conservative candidate Don Stewart winning the closely-watched Toronto-St. Paul's federal byelection, and delivering a stunning upset to Justin Trudeau's candidate Leslie Church in the long-time Liberal riding, has sent political shockwaves through both parties.
'We will go with the majority': Liberals slammed by opposition over proposal to delay next election
The federal Liberal government learned Friday it might have to retreat on a proposal within its electoral reform legislation to delay the next vote by one week, after all opposition parties came out to say they can't support it.
Budget 2024 prioritizes housing while taxing highest earners, deficit projected at $39.8B
In an effort to level the playing field for young people, in the 2024 federal budget, the government is targeting Canada's highest earners with new taxes in order to help offset billions in new spending to enhance the country's housing supply and social supports.
'One of the greatest': Former prime minister Brian Mulroney commemorated at state funeral
Prominent Canadians, political leaders, and family members remembered former prime minister and Progressive Conservative titan Brian Mulroney as an ambitious and compassionate nation-builder at his state funeral on Saturday.
Opinion
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government鈥檚 three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party鈥檚 popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
opinion Don Martin: The doctor Trudeau dumped has a prescription for better health care
Political columnist Don Martin sat down with former federal health minister Jane Philpott, who's on a crusade to help fix Canada's broken health care system, and who declined to take any shots at the prime minister who dumped her from caucus.
opinion Don Martin: Trudeau's seeking shelter from the housing storm he helped create
While Justin Trudeau's recent housing announcements are generally drawing praise from experts, political columnist Don Martin argues there shouldn鈥檛 be any standing ovations for a prime minister who helped caused the problem in the first place.
opinion Don Martin: Poilievre has the field to himself as he races across the country to big crowds
It came to pass on Thursday evening that the confidentially predictable failure of the Official Opposition non-confidence motion went down with 204 Liberal, BQ and NDP nays to 116 Conservative yeas. But forcing Canada into a federal election campaign was never the point.
opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike
When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadians across the country mark Remembrance Day
Today Canadians will remember and honour the sacrifice of men and women in uniform who gave their lives in service of the country's values and principles.
Two nephews of the beloved Harry R. Hamilton share stories about his life and legacy.
Canada cancels automatic 10-year multiple-entry visas, tightens rules
Canada has announced changes to their visitor visa policies, effectively ending the automatic issuance of 10-year multiple-entry visas, according to new rules outlined by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
Trump announces Tom Homan, former director of immigration enforcement, will serve as 'border czar'
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump says that Tom Homan, his former acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement director, will serve as "border czar" in his incoming administration.
Alien-like signal from 2023 has been decoded. The next step is to figure out what it means
If Earth's astronomical observatories were to pick up a signal from outer space, it would need an all-hands-on-deck effort to decipher the extraterrestrial message. A father-daughter team of citizen scientists recently deciphered the message. Its meaning, however, remains a mystery.
Bleeding and in pain, a woman endured a harrowing wait for miscarriage care due to Georgia's restrictive abortion law
Since the U.S. Supreme Court鈥檚 2022 Dobbs decision eliminated the federal right to abortion, miscarriage management has become trickier and in some cases, deadlier.
The union representing some 1,200 dockworkers at the Port of Montreal has overwhelmingly rejected a deal with their employers association.
His wife was swept away by Hurricane Helene鈥檚 floodwaters. Now he鈥檚 been scammed out of nearly US$40,000
Rod Ashby was desperate to find his wife Kim Ashby after their newly built home in Elk Park, North Carolina, was swept away by Hurricane Helene鈥檚 floodwaters in late September and she went missing.
Canadian veterans remember how they eased tensions as UN peacekeepers in ethnically split Cyprus
It was the first time that Canadian UN peacekeeper Michelle Angela Hamelin said she came up against the raw emotion of a people so exasperated with their country's predicament.
Local Spotlight
Should Toronto tear up its bike lanes to improve traffic flow? Critics say it's not so simple
A congestion crisis, a traffic nightmare, or unrelenting gridlock -- whatever you call it, most agree that Toronto has a congestion problem. To alleviate some of the gridlock, the Ontario government has announced it plans to remove bike lanes from three major roadways.
For the second year in a row, the 鈥楪ift-a-Family鈥 campaign is hoping to make the holidays happier for children and families in need throughout Barrie.
Some of the most prolific photographers behind CTV Skywatch Pics of the Day use the medium for fun, therapy, and connection.
A young family from Codroy Valley, N.L., is happy to be on land and resting with their newborn daughter, Miley, after an overwhelming, yet exciting experience at sea.
As Connor Nijsse prepared to remove some old drywall during his garage renovation, he feared the worst.
A group of women in Chester, N.S., has been busy on the weekends making quilts 鈥 not for themselves, but for those in need.
A Vancouver artist whose streetside singing led to a chance encounter with one of the world's biggest musicians is encouraging aspiring performers to try their hand at busking.
Ten-thousand hand-knit poppies were taken from the Sanctuary Arts Centre and displayed on the fence surrounding the Dartmouth Cenotaph on Monday.
A Vancouver man is saying goodbye to his nine-to-five and embarking on a road trip from the Canadian Arctic to Antarctica.