Qatari Emir discusses Gaza with Canadian prime minister

By Necva Tastan

ISTANBUL (AA) - Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau discussed developments in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday amid Israel’s attacks.

The two leaders spoke by phone, according to Qatar News Agency.

Al Thani and Trudeau discussed ways to enhance relations and cooperation between the two countries and evaluated developments of mutual international concern and common interests.

They also discussed the situation and developments in the Gaza Strip and the occupied Palestinian territories.

Israel has pounded the Gaza Strip in retaliation for an Oct. 7, 2023 attack by the Palestinian group Hamas which killed about 1,200 people.

More than 34,800 Palestinians have since been killed in Gaza, the vast majority of whom have been women and children, and 78,100 others injured, according to Palestinian health authorities.

Over seven months into the Israeli war, vast swathes of Gaza lay in ruins, pushing 85% of the enclave’s population into internal displacement amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine, according to the UN.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January said it is "plausible" that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza and ordered Tel Aviv to stop such acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.