Minister Garneau meets with Palestinian Authority officials

July 5, 2021 – Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today met with Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority, Dr. Muhammad Shtayyeh, Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority, and Dr. Riad Malki, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the Palestinian Authority.

Minister Garneau offered Canada’s condolences to the families who lost loved ones in the recent conflict, and underscored Canada’s grave concerns over the humanitarian impact it has on Palestinians. 

The Minister reaffirmed Canada’s long-standing commitment to support the Palestinian people. He highlighted Prime Minister Trudeau’s announcement of $25 million for Palestinians affected by the recent violence in Gaza and the West Bank, noting that Canada has moved quickly to provide $10 million for urgent humanitarian needs.

Minister Garneau restated Canada’s long-standing position and concerns that the continued expansion of settlements, demolitions and evictions constitute a serious obstacle to achieving peace and the need for these activities to cease. The Minister also restated Canada’s commitment to a two-state solution, with Palestinian and Israeli peoples living side-by-side in peace and security and with their human rights fully respected.

The Minister highlighted Canada’s disappointment by the decision to postpone Palestinian elections and strongly urged the officials to hold them as soon as possible to ensure democratic renewal and accountability.

The Minister expressed Canada’s deep sadness over the death of political activist Nizar Banat while in the custody of Palestinian security forces and urged the Palestinian Authority to conduct a credible and transparent investigation into his death and hold accountable those responsible. The Minister also conveyed Canada’s concern regarding attacks on protestors, including attacks on women, and journalists, and expressed Canada’s firm support of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

Minister Garneau and his interlocutors agreed to continue working together and with the international community to support the creation of a sovereign, viable, democratic and territorially contiguous Palestinian state that lives in peace and security with Israel and its neighbours.