Minister Joly to travel to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Israel and the West Bank to discuss the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict and pathways towards sustainable peace

From: Global Affairs Canada

News release

March 5, 2024 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced that she will be travelling to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from March 6 to 9, 2024. She will then visit Israel, Jerusalem and the West Bank from March 10 to 13, 2024.

During her trip, Minister Joly will meet with her regional counterparts, foreign officials and stakeholders to exchange views on the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. She will reiterate Canada’s unequivocal condemnation of Hamas’ terrorist attacks against Israel on October 7, 2023, and its use of sexual and gender-based violence as a tactic of war, and underscore Canada’s engagement on efforts to facilitate the release of all hostages. She will highlight the need to increase critical humanitarian assistance to Gaza and exchange views on the steps needed to help establish pathways towards sustainable peace and security.

Minister Joly will reaffirm Canada’s unwavering support for a path to a two-state solution, including the creation of a Palestinian state living side by side in peace, security, and dignity with Israel. She will continue engaging with partners on efforts to assist Canadians and their family members to leave Gaza. She will also meet with international humanitarian organizations to discuss their work related to sexual and gender-based violence and the humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people in Gaza.

Quotes

“A lasting peace will require hard conversations and strong commitments from all parties. I look forward to meeting with Canada’s partners in the region to continue discussions on how we can best support efforts toward sustainable peace and security in the Middle East. Israelis and Palestinians have a right to live side by side in dignity and peace. I remain fully committed to supporting a meaningful resolution to this conflict.”

- Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs

Quick facts

  • Canada and Saudi Arabia celebrated 50 years of diplomatic relations in 2023. Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, visited Canada in December 2023 in his capacity as chair of the Ministerial Committee of the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit.

  • Minister Joly and her Kuwaiti counterpart, Minister Al Yahya, met on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in February 2024. Canada contributed some 4,000 troops to the international coalition that liberated Kuwait in 1991. Kuwait hosts the Canadian Armed Forces’ operational support hub at the Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait City, which provides pivotal support to the CAF’s regional operations.

  • Canada and the UAE are celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations this year. The UAE is one of Canada’s most significant merchandise trade partners in the Middle East and North Africa.

  • Canada and Israel have strong, multidimensional bilateral relations marked by close political, economic, social and cultural ties. Canada recognized Israel upon its founding in 1948, and the two countries established formal diplomatic relations on May 11, 1949.

  • Canada enjoys positive relations with the Palestinian Authority, the governmental entity in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Canada recognizes the Palestinian right to self-determination and supports the creation of a sovereign, independent, viable, democratic, and territorially contiguous Palestinian state as part of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace settlement.

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