Hamas hostage deal 'progress' but long-term peace needs 'many more steps': Trudeau

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau remained unmoved on Friday in rejecting demands for Canada to call for a full ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war, but said a deal this week to temporarily halt hostilities so some hostages can be released is a sign of progress.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau remained unmoved on Friday in rejecting demands for Canada to call for a full ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war, but said a deal this week to temporarily halt hostilities so some hostages can be released is a sign of progress.

"I continue to call for a need for lasting peace in the region, including a two-state solution," Trudeau said at a news conference in St. John's, N.L.

"We've been calling for weeks for a significant humanitarian pause. It is progress that we have that right now. But there are many more steps we're going to have to take on together."

Hamas, which Canada deems a terrorist organization, has so far freed 24 people, including 13 Israeli women and children, 10 people from Thailand and one person from the Philippines.

Israel confirmed on Friday that it released 39 Palestinian prisoners in line with the truce deal. 

Hamas captured about 240 hostages when its militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people, including hundreds of civilians.

An official at Global Affairs Canada confirmed to the Senate foreign affairs committee this week that one Canadian woman is still missing.