Minister Joly hosts meeting in Ottawa with the Ministerial Committee of the Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit

December 9, 2023 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, hosted a meeting in Ottawa with a delegation of foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and the Palestinian Authority to discuss the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas and the path toward lasting peace in the region.

The visiting foreign ministers travelled to Ottawa as representatives of the Ministerial Committee of the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit. Their trip to Ottawa followed their visits to the capitals of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

During their meeting, Minister Joly chaired a discussion on the latest developments in the conflict, during which the foreign ministers discussed the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. Minister Joly emphasized Canada’s position that the violence must end and that much more humanitarian assistance be allowed into Gaza. She reiterated Canada’s condemnation of the brutal terrorist attacks perpetrated by Hamas against Israel on October 7, the call for the immediate release of all hostages, and the need to allow Canadians and foreign nationals who wish to leave Gaza to do so.

The foreign ministers also discussed possible political pathways to comprehensive peace and the importance of working toward a sustainable future that ensures the self-determination, human rights, and security for Palestinians and Israelis alike.

Following the Ministerial discussion chaired by Minister Joly, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with the visiting foreign ministers to hear their views for the way forward.

Prime Minister Trudeau and Minister Joly reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to continue working with the foreign ministers and other regional partners to achieve a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace in the Middle East, through a two-state solution, with a Palestinian state living side-by-side with Israel.