Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called for peace in the Middle East during the Francophonie summit in Paris, where he decried the civilian death toll in the region, which he attributed to Hamas, Hezbollah, and Israel. While Trudeau did not outright condemn Israel for beginning a ground war, he stressed the importance of seeing peace in the region. This year’s summit has been dominated by discussions of the conflict in the Middle East, especially as Lebanon is one of the 88 member countries of the organization. Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly was also in attendance and scheduled to meet with a Lebanese government minister to discuss the escalating violence.
The violence in the region has escalated in recent weeks, with a significant increase in attacks by Hamas on Israel, resulting in a high death toll on both sides. Hezbollah and Israel have also engaged in frequent exchanges of fire across the Lebanon border, with Israel launching airstrikes and a ground incursion targeting Hezbollah in suburban Beirut. Additionally, Iran, which supports both Hamas and Hezbollah, launched ballistic missiles at Israel, prompting condemnation from Trudeau. While acknowledging Israel’s right to respond to these attacks, Trudeau emphasized the need for de-escalation and holding Iran accountable for its involvement in funding and organizing these militant groups.
Trudeau expressed support for a two-state solution for Israel and a Palestinian state as part of the peace process. Meanwhile, efforts are being made to evacuate Canadians from Lebanon, where about 45,000 citizens and their family members were when the violence escalated. Flights have been chartered to transport Canadians to safety, with additional flights scheduled in the coming days. Despite the risks involved, Joly urged Canadians to take the opportunity to leave the country if offered a seat on a flight, emphasizing the importance of ensuring the safety and well-being of those affected by the conflict.
The situation in Lebanon remains precarious, with critical infrastructure such as the port and airport in Beirut at risk of being targeted. Trudeau expressed concern over the recent airstrike near the Beirut airport and the deaths of two Canadians attempting to flee violence in southern Lebanon. Despite these challenges, efforts continue to evacuate Canadians and provide support to those affected by the conflict in the region. While condemning the actions of terrorist organizations like Hezbollah and Hamas, Trudeau emphasized the need for all parties to work towards de-escalation and achieving lasting peace in the Middle East.
