Fifty-two elected officials in British Columbia issued an open letter requesting the federal government to call for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

The elected officials, representing 29 different local governments, called on Justin Trudeau's Liberal government in Ottawa to exert pressure to allow unrestricted humanitarian aid into the Palestinian enclave, which is besieged by Israeli forces, relentlessly bombed, and partially entered.

They also called for the release of all hostages kidnapped by the Palestinian Hamas movement in southern Israel on the past October 7.

"We, as locally elected officials across British Columbia, are horrified and torn apart by the crisis in Israel and the Gaza Strip," the letter stated. "We have heard from people directly affected, through their families and friends in Gaza and Israel, and others concerned about the ongoing destruction. They are demanding all levels of government take action," the signatories added.

The letter signatories also stated they feel "ashamed of Canada's abstention in the United Nations General Assembly vote on a resolution calling for an immediate, permanent, and sustainable humanitarian ceasefire leading to the cessation of hostilities."

"My Jewish values have taught me to stand against injustice and for the liberation of all peoples," said Daniel Tetro, a member of the Burnaby City Council and one of the letter's signatories.

"Thousands of innocent civilians have been killed in the past month, and there is no end in sight. The Canadian government must support the call for a ceasefire," Tetro added.

The release of this letter comes at a time when many locally elected officials are urging the federal government to demand a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas.

Also, during his visit to British Columbia yesterday, Trudeau reiterated his call for an "important humanitarian truce" to send aid to the Gaza Strip, evacuate foreign nationals from it, and ensure the release of hostages held by Hamas.

The Canadian Prime Minister added that "the violence must stop," but did not mention an official ceasefire.