Canada sanctions Hamas leaders, looks to get more aid to Gaza: Joly

Canada’s Foreign Minister says that as Ottawa works to get more aid to Gaza, it’s laid sanctions against nearly a dozen Hamas militants for their role in the Oct. 7 attack.

Minister Melanie Joly says 10 individuals tied to Hamas were handed the sanctions, which mainly include senior leaders and one person associated with the Palestinian militant group, Islamic Jihad.

Among the most notable names is Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who is accused of plotting the Oct. 7 attack in Israel that saw roughly 1,200 people killed and more than 200 taken hostage.

On Parliament Hill Tuesday, Joly called Hamas a terrorist organization and hopes the sanctions will hinder any funding to the Palestinian authority.

READ MORE: Canadian reported missing in Gaza makes contact with family, posts video online

In terms of humanitarian efforts, Joly says that discussions are occurring with a counterpart in Jordan on how they can get more aid into Gaza, where more than 2 million people have been displaced and more than 27,000 have been killed according to Gazan officials.

The minister says a hostage deal is also being discussed.

“Because we absolutely need to get the hostage deal. This hostage deal would of course allow hostages to be released, more humanitarian aid going in, but also having Hamas lay down its weapons,” Joly told reporters.

“And we hope that from that moment that there is that hostage deal, which will lead to a truce of a couple days, we hope a couple weeks, we can lead then to a sustainable ceasefire which will stop, of course the escalation in the region.”

Israel and the United States are reviewing the latest proposal of a hostage deal and a halt in fighting. While details haven’t been made public, multiple reports say there was a “positive reception” from Hamas leadership but still aim to see a comprehensive ceasefire.

WATCH MORE: UN top court orders Israel to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza