Cars emblazoned with the internationally recognized Red Cross logo carried 24 men, women and children out of Gaza on Friday after they were held in captivity by Hamas militants for nearly seven weeks. The escort marks the first wave in what is expected to be a series of hostage releases over the next four days. In total, Hamas will release 200 hostages taken from Israel on Oct. 7 in exchange for what they say is 150 Palestinians prisoners being held in Israel. In addition to the freedom of dozens of hostages, the temporary pause has allowed more desperately needed aid to enter Gaza. Between 137 and 200 trucks filled with supplies entered the region in the morning, helping Palestinians in need as they reel from the weeks of violence that have left the strip in dire straits. The situation for Palestinians is so bad, however, that aid groups are saying they won’t be able to fully meet the needs of the displaced, wounded and hungry in just a few days. As the annual EU-Canada Summit comes to a close, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and European leaders reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Ukraine as the Russia-Ukraine war rages on and leaves democratic values under threat. There is, however, a divide within Canada’s House of Commons, after Conservatives voted against an updated version of the Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement earlier this week. And, scores of Canadian shoppers were expected to pack malls across the country in the hunt for Black Friday deals, especially amid concerns about “gift-flation” this holiday season as inflation drives up the price of gifts. Canadians will be facing a tough choice to save – or to spend. Plus, some members of a British Columbian Indigenous community are voicing their opposition to the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion’s new route through a sacred site. Those against the move say they won’t back down. The controversy has sparked out to other communities with already signed agreements.