Foreign Affairs committee  Yes, we're reviewing and watching the investigation carefully and very strongly supporting the ICC. This is the cornerstone of the rules-based international order that we need. Thank you.

Foreign Affairs committee  Thanks very much. Yes, I would say Egypt played a critical role in helping bring about the ceasefire with extensive conversations and negotiations with the Israelis and with Hamas and others. I think they really carried the weight of this burden in this latest conflict. We had

Foreign Affairs committee  I try not to be overly optimistic, but I would say that as long as we can reinforce the ceasefire with emergency intervention, it will hopefully hold and we'll continue on this path. I think, at the end of the day, none of them wants to see more of the tragic consequences that we

Foreign Affairs committee  I don't want to give precise statistics, Mr. Chair, but I can say that the numbers we have heard are very similar to those just quoted.

Foreign Affairs committee  We are learning about the issue related to the UNRWA director in Gaza. We're looking into that. To me, it indicates the extreme tension that takes place in Gaza. You have an organization trying to represent the UN and support the people, and their values and interests are often e

Foreign Affairs committee  Yes. That's absolutely correct. We very much think that the Palestinians are long overdue. The Palestinian people deserve to exercise their democratic rights. We have raised it with the Israelis on numerous occasions to help make this happen.

Foreign Affairs committee  With respect to the International Criminal Court, our position is very clear and has been stated many times in 2015, 2018 and 2020. As soon as the Palestinians sought to accede to the Rome Statute of the ICC, Canada indicated that it did not support Palestinian accession to the R

Foreign Affairs committee  The same rationale for not supporting unilateral actions that prejudge the outcome...like accessions, and the Palestinians have sought to accede to dozens. In fact, they mention probably 300 instruments, treaties and—

Foreign Affairs committee  Thanks very much. I appreciate the comment. I'd just say that a number of these efforts for accession are driven to send a message. It's not really about the Palestinians wanting to participate in the chemical weapons convention, for example. It's to make a political point.

Foreign Affairs committee  I hesitate to be a confirmation, but what I can say is that I heard from our partners that incidents, including this one, have occurred, and that humanitarian actors and supplies were either targeted or prevented from entering. In terms of the reason, again, it's hard for me to

Foreign Affairs committee  Certainly, on the vaccination question, we are quite concerned about the current state of affairs in the West Bank and Gaza. We have been discussing, with our partners, with donors and with the Palestinians, the plan for vaccination in both those areas. I've been told by the Pale

Foreign Affairs committee  I know Israel was asked that very question, and it indicated that it did not feel it had a responsibility to vaccinate the Palestinians. Other measures were taken for the Palestinians, but Israel did, indeed, facilitate the movement of vaccines through Israel and into the Palesti

Foreign Affairs committee  Canada's policy is long-standing. We do not recognize permanent Israeli control over the territories from the 1967 conflict, which includes east Jerusalem, Gaza, the Golan Heights and the West Bank. This is what makes the settlements the Israelis are building in those territories

Foreign Affairs committee  On settlements and changing of geography on the ground, we have been very strong and vocal that settlement, evictions and demolitions are illegal, are contrary to the Fourth Geneva Convention and must stop. We have articulated this to our partners and to our Israeli friends publi

Foreign Affairs committee  What I would say is that we believe in the creation of a Palestinian state, but you can't just announce it. We need to collectively work together and get the circumstances so that there is a contiguous, viable, sovereign Palestinian state that works and functions. Unilateral decl