By Merve Aydogan
HAMILTON, Canada (AA) - Canada on Wednesday strongly denounced demands by senior Israeli ministers for the Gaza Strip to be emptied of Palestinians and said it "undermines prospects for lasting peace."
"Canada unequivocally rejects recent calls by senior Israeli ministers to re-establish settlements in Gaza," the Foreign Ministry wrote on X, adding it "firmly opposes the re-establishment of settlements in the Gaza Strip."
Noting that "inflammatory rhetoric undermines prospects for lasting peace," Canada expressed support to Palestinians and Israelis "right to live in peace, security, and dignity."
Israeli Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s remarks came Monday at a conference of far-right Israeli settlers near the border with the Gaza Strip to press for the rebuilding Jewish settlements in the Palestinian enclave.
At the event, which included the slogans “Gaza is Ours, Forever” and “Preparing to Resettle Gaza,” Ben-Gvir said, “ncouraging emigration” of the Palestinian population from the territory is “the most ethical” solution to the current conflict.
“If we want to, we can renew settlement in Gaza,” said the ultranationalist leader.
Several government ministers and Knesset (parliament) members attended the conference, including far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
Israeli Minister of Equality May Golan, one of the conference organizers, called for the establishment of Jewish-only settlements in Gaza.
Israel has continued a brutal offensive on Gaza since a Hamas attack last year, despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire.
Nearly 43,000 people have since been killed, mostly women and children, and over 100,000 others injured, according to local health authorities.
The Israeli war on Gaza has displaced almost the territory’s entire population amid an ongoing blockade that has led to severe shortages of food, clean water and medicine.
Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza.