OTTAWA Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced that Canada is committing $100 million in new aid for Palestinians and is considering expanding an RCMP training mission aimed at local police in the West Bank to include Gaza, contingent upon the safety conditions in the region.
Carney made these statements on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday. He reiterated Canada's commitment to fostering an environment conducive to the establishment of a Palestinian state that can coexist peacefully alongside Israel. He asserted that the pursuit of a two-state solution continues to drive Canada's diplomatic efforts in the region.
Reflecting on Canada's recognition of the State of Palestine a year ago under certain "preconditions," Carney emphasized that the need for governance reform within the Palestinian Authority remains paramount. He expressed concern that, a year later, the chances of achieving a two-state solution seem increasingly bleak. "The long-held international consensus for a two-state solution means nothing — unless these conditions change," he remarked during an event attended by leaders from France, the United Kingdom, and Saudi Arabia.
Carney highlighted the grave humanitarian situation facing Palestinians in Gaza, noting that they are enduring "immense human suffering." Moreover, he pointed out that Israelis are facing "existential threats" from Hamas as well as Iran and its regional proxies. The Prime Minister underlined the severe impact of ongoing conflict on Palestinian civilians, stating that Gaza has the highest number of child amputees recorded in modern history. He described the destruction of hospitals, schools, and maternal clinics in Gaza, emphasizing the urgent need for international support and rebuilding efforts.
As part of the announcement, Carney detailed that $80 million of the new humanitarian aid will be dedicated to immediate relief efforts, with an additional $20 million earmarked for development funding focused on security initiatives. This funding will support a multi-year project aimed at training Palestinian police forces. Currently, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is engaged in training Palestinian police officers in the West Bank, and Carney indicated a willingness to extend this training program to Gaza when safety allows.
Carney stated, "We will continue to lead with others in training the Palestinian Authority's security forces through Operation Proteus, and we stand ready to extend that support to Gaza when conditions permit." The Canadian government has pledged over $600 million in aid to Palestinian civilians since the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza war in October 2023.
Recent documents presented in Parliament have detailed extensive damage to numerous Canadian-funded aid projects, attributed to actions by Israel's military and settlers. In light of this situation, the organization Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East critiqued the new funding initiative, arguing that it fails to address the "core of the problem." They stated that Canada should not overlook the need to hold Israel accountable for the destruction of aid projects within the occupied territories. Michael Bueckert, the group's vice-president, expressed disbelief that Canada promotes its humanitarian efforts while neglecting to address the accountability for the bombing and demolition of these initiatives.
