OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed Canada’s commitment to supporting the fragile peace agreement between Israel and Hamas during a summit in Egypt over the weekend. However, he did not announce any specific new commitments, according to a senior Canadian government official.

Carney attended the summit in Sharm el-Sheikh alongside more than 20 world leaders, where U.S. President Donald Trump facilitated the signing of a peace deal aimed at ending the conflict in Gaza. This agreement resulted in the release of the last 20 living Israeli hostages in exchange for thousands of Palestinian prisoners. Despite this progress, the ceasefire faced challenges, particularly regarding the release of Israeli hostage remains and ongoing fighting in Gaza.

During the summit, Trump acknowledged Carney’s presence, mistakenly referring to him as the “president” of Canada. Carney humorously noted the mix-up, while Trump quipped, “at least I didn’t say governor.” The meeting allowed for candid discussions about the logistics and actions needed from the international community to maintain momentum for the peace deal.

The Canadian official highlighted that Carney engaged in discussions with leaders such as Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and Jordan’s King Abdullah. An informal meeting emerged among Carney, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, as other leaders joined in to discuss the next steps for establishing lasting peace in the region.

The leaders prioritized the urgent need to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza and to stabilize security in the area. One potential avenue for Canada is to enhance its involvement in the Office of the Security Coordinator, an American-led initiative that provides military and police training to the Palestinian Authority. Canada is a significant contributor to this program, known as Operation Proteus.

The official stated, “The Prime Minister is very pragmatic, and his view is, how do we take existing work and try to use it to better drive forward results here?” Some regional countries are focused on immediate stability efforts.

Janice Stein from the Munk School of Global Affairs noted that the summit signaled a commitment to ensuring that both Hamas and Israel cease hostilities. She remarked, “Carney, along with other leaders, sent a strong signal by their presence that they are going to continue to work at this, and that neither Hamas nor Israel is going to be permitted to go back to war.”

Stein suggested that Canada would likely contribute to humanitarian efforts and policing but indicated that deploying troops on the ground is unlikely due to the current strain on Canada’s armed forces.

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand stated that Canada has already provided $400 million in support to the region and continues to rely on international aid organizations for assistance in Gaza. She mentioned that Canada may increase its humanitarian aid in collaboration with international partners, affirming, “We will continue to be there with humanitarian aid, always.”

Carney returned from the summit on Tuesday and had a brief conversation with Trump after the formal ceremony. However, it remains unclear if trade discussions took place. Political leaders across the spectrum credited Trump for the breakthrough in negotiations. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre expressed gratitude to Trump for his leadership in negotiating a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

Trump announced plans to establish a new “Board of Peace” to govern Gaza, stating that many leaders are interested in participating. When asked if Canada would seek involvement, the Canadian official responded, “We are committed to contributing in whatever ways are going to be best.”

The official emphasized Canada’s expertise in post-conflict resolution and peacekeeping, noting, “There are lots of ways in which we can contribute.” However, the specific nature of Canada’s involvement remains to be determined.

While the Canadian official suggested that Canada’s recognition of Palestinian statehood helped build momentum for the peace deal, Trump expressed indifference regarding the prospects of a two-state solution, focusing instead on the need to rebuild Gaza. He stated, “We’re talking about rebuilding Gaza. I’m not talking about a single state or double state or two state.”

No Canadian media were informed in advance of Carney’s trip or allowed to accompany him due to logistical constraints, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.