Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to depart tonight for Egypt to participate in the signing of a peace agreement for the Middle East, with the objective of resolving the conflict in Gaza. The news was confirmed in a press release from his office on Sunday afternoon. Carney will be joining leaders from various countries, including U.S. President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who confirmed their attendance the day before. The summit is scheduled to take place on Monday in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.
Carney’s visit coincides with a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that remains in place, ahead of the anticipated release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners. As per the ceasefire terms, Hamas is required to release the remaining hostages, who were captured during a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, by noon on Monday.
Representative Shosh Bedrosian of the Israeli government mentioned that all 20 living hostages are expected to be released simultaneously to the Red Cross and transported in six to eight vehicles. The hostages will then be taken to a military base to reunite with their families or receive immediate medical attention if necessary.
After the hostages are freed, Israel is obligated to release approximately 2,000 Palestinian detainees and receive the 28 hostages presumed to be deceased. A ceremonial event is planned by the military to honor them in Gaza.
Preparations are also underway at Gaza’s borders to escalate the delivery of aid to the conflict-affected region. The Israeli military body responsible for humanitarian aid in Gaza indicated that the volume of aid entering the Palestinian territory is projected to increase to around 600 trucks per day, as outlined in the agreement. The United Nations stands ready with approximately 170,000 tonnes of food, medicine, and other aid to dispatch once Israel gives the go-ahead.
This journey to Egypt marks Carney’s initial visit to the Middle East since Canada officially recognized a Palestinian state last month. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) stated that the decision aimed to uphold the possibility of a two-state solution, expressing concerns about actions by Hamas and Israel undermining the potential for a negotiated settlement.
Canada’s recognition of the state of Palestine, announced by Carney in July, is contingent on commitments from the Palestinian authority, such as governance reforms, upcoming general elections in 2026 excluding Hamas, and the demilitarization of the Palestinian state. The PMO affirmed that Canada will enhance its support to facilitate the Palestinian Authority’s progress in implementing these reforms.
The PMO reiterated Canada’s commitment to collaborating with both the State of Palestine and the State of Israel to foster a peaceful future for the region.