Prime Minister Mark Carney is facing significant pushback over a joint statement he issued with France and the United Kingdom threatening Israel with sanctions.
On Monday, Carney issued a joint statement with French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer opposing Israel’s current military operation to destroy the terrorist organization Hamas, citing the trio’s opposition to the counteroffensive.
“We strongly oppose the expansion of Israel’s military operations in Gaza. The level of human suffering in Gaza is intolerable,” reads the joint statement.
“Yesterday’s announcement that Israel will allow a basic quantity of food into Gaza is wholly inadequate. We call on the Israeli Government to stop its military operations in Gaza and immediately allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza.”
The leaders of the three countries expressed their support for Israel’s right to self-defence, but stated that Israel’s carrying out of its war against Hamas is “egregious” and that they would not hesitate to impose targeted sanctions if Israel continued the war.
Hamas responded by thanking Canada, France, and the UK for their statement and highlighting some of the concerns the terror group has been raising.
Carney’s joint statement and Hamas’ subsequent approval sparked controversy at home, with the prime minister’s decidedly stern tone with Israel rubbing many the wrong way.
President of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs Noah Shack said Israel is being treated unfairly, as the scope of Israel’s military operations pale in comparison to Hamas’ aggression against civilian targets.
“If Israel were to cease targeting Hamas, hostages would remain chained in tunnels and Hamas would repeat the October 7 massacre — as it has explicitly vowed. If Hamas were to release the hostages and cease targeting Israel, this war will come to an end. That is why thousands of Gazans are in the streets today bravely protesting Hamas rule,” said Shack.
“Prime Minister Carney made it clear that Canada understands this when he affirmed that Hamas must lay down its weapons and have no future role in the governance of Gaza. Today’s statement undermines that position and gives Hamas incentive to continue rejecting a negotiated agreement.”
Deputy leader of the Conservative Party Melissa Lantsman slammed Carney for issuing a statement that garnered Hamas’ official support, as former prime minister Justin Trudeau had done in calling for a ceasefire just a couple of months into the conflict.
“For the people in the back, this is now the SECOND time Hamas has thanked the Liberals for their betrayal. This Prime Minister is just like the last one,” said Lantsman.
Iranian Canadian activist Salma Sima lamented Hamas’ praise for the prime minister and the influence that anti-Israel activists have gained in recent years.
“Hamas thanked Canada for the second time. Once at the end of Justin Trudeau’s term and now at the beginning of Mark Carney’s term. Canada is falling,” said Sima.
“We are screwed at every level of government. Think about it: Hamas thanked Canada for the second time. Wake up Canada! God keeps our land glorious and free from TERRORISTS.”
Former MP Kevin Vuong chimed in with similar comments, questioning how Canada will be viewed in the long term after receiving support from a terrorist organization.
“Today, for the second time, Hamas, a designated terror group, has thanked a Liberal government. Is there a better indication that you are on the wrong side of history than being thanked by terrorists?” said Vuong.