Displaced Palestinians walk past destroyed buildings in the heavily damaged Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in Gaza City, on Oct. 11.Abdel Kareem Hana/The Associated Press
After two years of war in Gaza and Israel, the bombing has stopped and all living hostages seized on Oct. 7, 2023, have finally been released. There is a ceasefire, but everyone knows the road to a lasting peace in the Middle East is filled with enormous obstacles.
Previous ceasefires in Gaza didn’t hold. Despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s bluster, most of the core issues around the Palestinian territory’s future are as yet unresolved.
The two-state solution, which would see an independent Palestine alongside a secure Israel, remains the only route to an enduring peace. To get there, the Palestinians need to strengthen their capacity to govern.
Canada isn’t a power broker in this conflict. Mr. Trump’s role is essential and he needs to keep pressing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to resume attacks on Gaza. The Arab states and Turkey must continue pressure on Hamas, pushing it to disarm and to relinquish power.
There is a role that Canada can play. When Canada recognized a Palestinian state last month, the Palestinian Authority committed to Canada and the international community that it would fundamentally reform its governance, most notably to hold free and fair elections next year. Canada must ensure Palestinian leaders uphold those commitments.
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Mark Carney seemed to suggest that Canadian soldiers could be part of a multinational force deployed in Palestine to keep the peace, but it is unlikely that our under-resourced military will have boots on the ground in Gaza. Unlike the peacekeeping missions of Canadian lore, there is no peace yet to keep. It’s more likely that troops from elsewhere, including Arab and Muslim countries, will undertake the difficult mission, if it proceeds.
Instead, Canada could play a role in training Palestinian troops to keep the peace in Gaza. Canadian soldiers have been training and mentoring Palestinian Authority security forces in Jerusalem and the West Bank since 2005, including police, the presidential guard and civil defence troops, alongside other NATO countries. One early report suggests Canada could go this route in Gaza, offering training and intelligence, rather than troops.
However, the biggest impact Canada can have is on governance. Peace in Gaza is contingent on Hamas losing power. Despite Mr. Netanyahu’s objections, the Palestinian Authority, which currently administers parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, would likely have a role to play as a partner in a successful peace plan.
Leader of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas walks before U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a summit to support ending the Israel-Hamas war, on Monday, in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.Evan Vucci/The Associated Press
The Palestinian Authority, currently headed by 89-year-old Mahmoud Abbas, is widely seen by both Palestinians and international observers as weak and corrupt. Mr. Abbas, who was elected in 2005, has repeatedly and inexcusably delayed a vote. It is unacceptable that an entire generation has come to age without the opportunity to cast a vote in presidential and legislative elections.
Despite Canada’s recognition of a Palestinian state, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said Canada would delay full normalization of relations until the Palestinian Authority undergoes reforms. Ottawa needs to go further, making it clear that continued recognition is contingent on those promises being fulfilled.
The Palestinian Authority said several weeks ago that it would be able to hold elections in the Palestinian territories within a year if the war in Gaza stopped. The international community, including Canada, needs to insist that free and fair elections happen as soon as possible.
In June, Ms. Anand announced $10-million to accelerate reform within the Palestinian Authority. Working alongside other countries, Canada can do more to support proper governance and the implementation and monitoring of democratic elections.
Canada has also committed more than $270-million for life-saving support in the West Bank and Gaza, funnelling money through humanitarian organizations. As the situation in Gaza stabilizes and the looting of aid ceases, Canada and other countries could be more confident in donations actually reaching the needy.
If the ceasefire develops into a lasting peace, Canada will be in a position to provide more aid to help rebuild Gaza’s shattered infrastructure. Canada’s influence in the Middle East is limited. But by pressing the Palestinian Authority on democratic reforms – and increased legitimacy – this country can help to lay down a path to peace.