Zehra Nur Duz
03 November 2023•Update: 03 November 2023
ANKARA
Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday met President of Switzerland Alain Berset in the capital Ottawa to discuss recent developments in the ongoing Palestine-Israel conflict, his office said.
Trudeau and Berset expressed support for “Israel’s right to defend itself in accordance with international law, including international humanitarian law," but also voiced concern over escalation in the region and the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.
They agreed on the need for “urgent and unimpeded” access to “life-saving” humanitarian aid for civilians.
The leaders called for the “humane” treatment and immediate release of all hostages being held by Hamas.
Trudeau and Berset also discussed the situation in Ukraine, regulation of online platforms, and bilateral relations.
Israel has heavily bombarded Gaza since Oct. 7 when the Palestinian group Hamas carried out a cross-border attack.
Besides a large number of casualties and displacement, Gaza's 2.3 million residents are grappling with shortages of food, water, fuel, and medicine.
As many as 102 trucks carrying humanitarian supplies entered Gaza through the Rafah crossing on Thursday, the largest convoy since delivery of aid resumed on Oct. 21, bringing the total number of trucks that entered to 374, according to the UN office for humanitarian affairs.
The entry of fuel, which is desperately needed to operate life-saving equipment, however, remains banned by the Israeli authorities.
