Trudeau says 3 Canadians may be among Hamas hostages

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has called on Hamas to release hostages in Gaza immediately, which he says may include at least three missing Canadians.

On Monday Trudeau spoke in Parliament for the first time since Hamas launched attacks against Israel on Oct. 7 killing hundreds and taking a reported 199 people hostage.

“Five Canadians were murdered by Hamas terrorists. Three Canadians are reported missing and may be hostages,” he told MPs in the House of Commons.

He continued in French, saying, “Canada asks Hamas to free all the hostages immediately.”

Canada has classified Hamas as a terrorist entity since 2022. As he addressed Parliament, Trudeau emphasized that militants with Hamas are not “freedom fighters”.

“Terrorism is always indefensible and nothing can justify Hamas’s acts of terror and the killing, maiming and abduction of civilians.”

At this time Canadian officials have declined to provide details about any potential hostages, citing concerns for their safety.

Earlier in the day, Trudeau said around 1,300 passengers have left Israel aboard flights arranged by the Canadian Armed Forces.

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly confirmed a group of Canadians have also crossed safely from the West Bank into neighbouring Jordan as the violence continues.

Trudeau acknowledged the worsening humanitarian crisis and called for “unimpeded humanitarian access and a humanitarian corridor so that essential aid like food, fuel and water can be delivered to civilians in Gaza.”

“It is imperative that this happen.”

He did not, however, call for a ceasefire and stopped short of calling for Israel to end its bombardment of the 2.3 million Palestinian citizens living in Gaza.

Canada was still working to get up to 300 citizens and their relatives out of Gaza after a plan to allow foreign nationals to leave the 365-square-kilometre coastal stretch via the border crossing with Egypt fell through on Saturday.

Officials say more than 6,800 Canadians are registered with Global Affairs in Israel, and more than 450 in both the West Bank and Gaza.