Photo credit: www.cbc.ca
Liberal Leader Mark Carney has called on Israel to permit the World Food Programme (WFP) to operate in Gaza, emphasizing that food should not be utilized as a “political tool.” This statement follows reports that the UN agency has exhausted its food supplies due to an ongoing Israeli blockade that has restricted deliveries.
According to the WFP, they have delivered their last available resources to kitchens in Gaza, which are expected to deplete their stocks in the upcoming days.
“The UN World Food Programme has just announced that its food stocks in Gaza have run out because of the Israeli Government’s blockade—food cannot be weaponized,” Carney stated on X.
The WFP further reported that no humanitarian or commercial goods have entered Gaza for over seven weeks, marking the longest period of closure for the territory’s main border crossings.
“Palestinian civilians should not pay the price for the actions of Hamas,” Carney asserted in his social media post. “The World Food Programme must have unrestricted access to resume its crucial operations.”
Israel has denied claims of a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, contending that Hamas manipulates aid for its own purposes—a claim that Hamas contests. Israeli authorities argue that the blockade is necessary to prevent resources from reaching militants.
WATCH | Leaders asked about aid for Gaza at French debate:
The media office of the Gaza government reported on Friday that famine is becoming increasingly imminent in the territory, which is home to 2.3 million residents.
Since a ceasefire ended on March 18, Israeli airstrikes have led to the deaths of more than 1,900 Palestinians, predominantly civilians, according to local health officials. Hundreds of thousands have been displaced as Israel has declared what it terms a buffer zone.
A Hamas-led assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities, alongside the capture of 251 hostages who were taken to Gaza, based on Israeli reports. In the aftermath, over 51,300 Palestinians have been reported killed in the ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza, according to health authorities.
In his X post, Carney highlighted that Canada had recently allocated nearly $100 million in support of the UN and other humanitarian initiatives in providing food and assistance.
“We will persist in collaborating with our allies toward establishing a permanent ceasefire and ensuring the immediate return of all hostages,” he added.
Carney’s comments coincide with U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement on Friday, stating that he has urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to permit the entry of food and medical supplies into the Gaza Strip.
The Canadian federal election is scheduled for Monday.
Source
www.cbc.ca