Prime Minister Carney Welcomes Release of Hostages Under Gaza Ceasefire Agreement

Carney commends international partners and urges continued progress toward peace and humanitarian access following the Gaza hostage release.

Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt — Prime Minister Mark Carney issued a statement from Egypt today welcoming the release of hostages under the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, calling it “a moment of profound relief” and urging all parties to continue implementing the peace framework.

The release follows two years of humanitarian suffering and marks the first major breakthrough under the ceasefire plan brokered through international mediation led by the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Türkiye.

“After over two years of suffering, today families are finally reunited,” Carney said. “For the Jewish people, this is a moment that holds two truths at once – a grief for what cannot be restored, and a fragile light of what might still be repaired.”

Remembering the Victims of October 7

The Prime Minister paid tribute to the victims of Hamas’ October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks — the deadliest assault on Jewish people since the Holocaust — and acknowledged the Canadians who lost their lives: Vivian Silver, Netta Epstein, Alexandre Look, Judih Weinstein, Shir Georgy, Ben Mizrachi, and Adi Vital-Kaploun, as well as others with close ties to Canada.

“May their memories be a blessing,” he said.

My statement on the release of hostages under the ceasefire agreement in Gaza: https://t.co/aIZtYzmWOM pic.twitter.com/4D89yWpi2l

— Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) October 13, 2025

Canada’s Call for Sustained Peace and Humanitarian Access

Carney emphasized that the release of hostages must mark a turning point toward a lasting peace in the Middle East, urging all sides to maintain compliance with the ceasefire agreement.

He reiterated Canada’s support for:

• The withdrawal of Israeli troops under the agreed ceasefire terms.

• The sustained and large-scale delivery of humanitarian aid throughout Gaza without delay.

• Continued implementation of the U.S.-led peace plan, which calls for transitional governance in Gaza and the eventual creation of a demilitarised Palestinian state.

Canada’s Support for Peace and Reconstruction

The Prime Minister commended U.S. President Donald Trump’s leadership in advancing a comprehensive peace plan, describing it as an essential step toward achieving regional stability and coexistence.

Carney reaffirmed Canada’s position that Hamas must disarm and play no role in the future governance of Gaza, underscoring the need for a political solution that ensures peaceful coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians.

Since October 2023, Canada has contributed over $400 million in humanitarian and development assistance to address the crises in Palestine and support reconstruction efforts.

“Canada continues to support the sustained delivery of humanitarian aid and is intensifying coordination with international partners to build a just and lasting peace,” Carney stated. “A peace that can only be guaranteed through a two-state solution.”

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