Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand in The Hague, Netherlands, in June. Anand called Israel’s attack on Hamas leadership in Qatar unacceptable on Wednesday.Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said Canada is “evaluating” its relationship with Israel, calling its attack on Hamas leadership in Qatar unacceptable.
But she stopped short of echoing the call from the EU for a suspension of trade with Israel or sanctions, citing instead Canada’s plan to recognize a Palestinian state at the upcoming United Nations’ General Assembly.
“Our goal is to support the peace process, which was occurring on the ground in Qatar,” she told reporters on the sidelines of the Liberal caucus meeting in Edmonton.
“So we are very surprised and disheartened at the Israeli attack in Qatar yesterday, and as a result of the declining stability in the Middle East, we will continue to evaluate our next steps.”
Later Wednesday, a spokesperson for the minister clarified her remarks.
“The Minister meant it in the sense that the government is constantly monitoring the situation and will continue to evaluate ways to push for a ceasefire, unrestricted humanitarian aid and the release of all hostages,” James Fitz-Morris said in an email.
Israel will kill Hamas leaders ‘next time,’ Israeli ambassador to U.S. says
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday that she would seek sanctions and a partial trade suspension against Israel over the war in the Gaza Strip.
The 27-nation EU is deeply divided in its approach to Israel and the Palestinians, and it’s unclear whether a majority will be found to endorse the sanctions and trade measures called for by von der Leyen.
“Man-made famine can never be a weapon of war. For the sake of the children, for the sake of humanity. This must stop,” von der Leyen said Wednesday, to applause in the European Parliament at its meeting in Strasbourg, France.
Israel denies there is starvation in Gaza and says it allows in enough humanitarian aid. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, in a social-media post, said von der Leyen had succumbed to pressures that undermine Israel-Europe relations.
Von der Leyen said she plans to freeze support to Israel given by the European Union’s executive branch, which would not require approval from the 27 member countries.
It was not immediately clear how much financial support the European Commission provides to Israel and what it is used for.
Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday condemned the Israeli air strike, calling it “an intolerable expansion of violence” that risked escalating conflict throughout the region.
He said last month that Israel’s plan to take control of Gaza City was “wrong.”
With reports from Stephanie Levitz and Reuters