During talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the head of Canadian diplomacy also questioned the forced expulsions of inhabitants from East Jerusalem, according to the official news agency WAFA.

Garneau advocated for the self-determination of the Palestinian people, respect for the holy sites in Jerusalem and regional stability.

He stressed that his government will continue to support the United Nations Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Middle East.

For his part, Abbas noted the need to put an end to the Israel’s occupation and political stagnation.

He insisted on the need to speed up the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, devastated by May 10-21 shelling by Tel Aviv’s air force, which killed more than 250 people.

WAFA explained that Abbas briefed the Canadian diplomat on his government’s efforts to try to resume talks with Tel Aviv in order to reach peace on the basis of UN Security Council resolutions and international law.

The Palestinian leader called on the international community to put pressure on the Jewish state to force it to stop its aggression.

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