Liberal leader Mark Carney urged Israel to allow the World Food Programme to work in Gaza, saying it must not be used as a “political tool” hours after the UN agency runs out of stock, as a result of Israel’s ongoing Israeli blockade of supplies.
The World Food Programme (WFP) said Friday it had provided the last remaining supplies to the kitchen that provided hot meals in Gaza, and the facility is expected to run out in the coming days.
“The United Nations World Food Program has just announced that its food stocks in Gaza have been run out due to the Israeli government’s lockdown – food cannot be used as a political tool,” Carney said on X.
UN agencies said no humanitarian or commercial supplies had entered Gaza for more than seven weeks as all major border crossings were closed, the longest ever closure in the Gaza Strip.
“Palestinian civilians must not bear the consequences of Hamas terror crimes,” Carney wrote in the Social Media Post. “The World Food Program must be allowed to resume its life-saving efforts.”
Israel has previously denied that Gaza is facing a hunger crisis. The military accused Hamas of depriving Hamas militants in Gaza, who denied the aid and said all supplies must be kept out to prevent combatants from receiving assistance.
Watch | Leaders asked about Gaza’s aid during French debate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pd9zfhrerq
The Gaza government media office said on Friday that famine is becoming a reality in the enclave of 2.3 million people.
According to Gaza health authorities, the Israeli attacks have killed more than 1,900 Palestinians, many of them civilians since the ceasefire collapsed in January 18.
According to Israel Tales, on October 7, 2023, an Israeli attack led by Hamas killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. Since then, more than 51,300 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli offensive in Gaza, according to health officials.
Carney noted in his post on X that Canada has recently committed nearly $100 million to support the provision of food and humanitarian assistance from the United Nations and other international partners.
“We will continue to work with our allies toward a permanent ceasefire and an immediate return of all hostages,” he wrote.
Carney’s remarks came after U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that he would allow Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to allow food and medicine to enter the Gaza Strip.
Canada’s federal election will be held on Monday.
