Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): In a significant diplomatic endorsement, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Monday welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump’s newly unveiled Middle East peace initiative, calling it a “historic” step toward resolving the Gaza conflict.
Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Carney expressed Canada’s strong support for the peace framework and urged all stakeholders in the region to embrace the opportunity for lasting peace.
“Canada welcomes President Trump’s historic new Middle East peace plan, and we urge all parties to help it realise its full potential,” Carney wrote. “As the critical next step, Hamas must immediately release all hostages. Canada stands ready to support the sustained, unimpeded, and large-scale delivery of humanitarian aid into and throughout Gaza.”
The U.S.-led plan, announced following a high-level meeting between President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, lays out a multi-phase proposal to end the two-year-old conflict in Gaza. Among the key features are a full ceasefire, the release of hostages and detainees, and large-scale humanitarian access coordinated through neutral international agencies.
The proposed plan envisions a future where Gaza is transformed into a “deradicalised, terror-free zone,” supported by international efforts to rebuild critical infrastructure and restore public services. The agreement also includes provisions for amnesty for demobilized Hamas members and the safe passage of those wishing to leave the territory.
Prime Minister Carney reinforced Canada’s commitment to a two-state solution, saying, “We will continue our close coordination with international partners to build a just and lasting peace that builds on today’s progress, with a sovereign, democratic, and viable State of Palestine building its future in peace and security with the State of Israel.”
The peace roadmap sets out that, within 72 hours of Israeli acceptance, all hostages — living or deceased — are to be returned. In return, Israel will release over 1,900 Palestinian detainees, including women and children, and offer reciprocal repatriation of remains. The plan also outlines mechanisms for humanitarian aid to enter Gaza without interference from either side, through agencies like the United Nations and the Red Crescent.
As part of the broader diplomatic effort, Carney’s remarks position Canada among the first Western nations to formally back the U.S.-brokered initiative. His government is expected to coordinate with international partners in both the implementation of aid and the facilitation of political dialogue moving forward.
While the plan has generated cautious optimism among some regional actors, it remains to be seen how the key parties — particularly Hamas and Israel — will formally respond in the coming days.
