The office of Prime Minister Mark Carney said the leaders agreed focus must stay on ‘advancing peace and security’ in the region.AMBER BRACKEN/The Canadian Press
The leaders of Canada, France, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, and Britain held a call on Monday to discuss the situation in the Middle East, the office of Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a statement.
“All leaders agreed that the focus must remain on advancing peace and security, including reaching a lasting ceasefire, securing the release of all hostages and the disarmament of Hamas, and scaling up flows of life-saving assistance for Palestinian civilians,” it said.
The call was chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron.
The heads of Arab and Islamic states held a summit Monday to show support for Qatar after Israel‘s attack on the Gulf state last week, which Hamas said killed five of its members.
Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, addressing the emergency summit, said the attack occurred as Hamas leaders were studying a U.S. ceasefire proposal.
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Speaking alongside Netanyahu in Israel, Rubio said the only way to end the war in Gaza would be for Hamas fighters to free all hostages and surrender.
The Sept. 9 strike in Doha marked a significant escalation of Israeli military action in a region shaken by conflict since the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023 attacks that ignited the Gaza war.