Canada 'evaluating' relationship with Israel after Qatar attack: Foreign affairs minister
Canada's foreign affairs minister said Wednesday that Ottawa is "evaluating" its relationship with Israel in the wake of that country's attack in Qatar — but wouldn't expand on what that evaluation entails.
"We are evaluating the relationship with Israel. Of course, the attack yesterday on Qatar was one that was unacceptable. It was a violation of Qatari airspace. There were deaths on the ground at a time when Qatar was trying to facilitate peace," Anita Anand told reporters at the Liberal caucus retreat in Edmonton.
"There are many moving pieces in the Middle East right now. And at the rock bottom, Canada's position is that we need to work for peace in the Middle East and we need to address the humanitarian situation in Gaza."
Anand made the comments when asked about European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announcing plans to seek sanctions and a partial trade suspension against Israel over the war in Gaza.
The minister was asked to clarify her comments, specifically if Canada would seek similar measures. Anand said the government "will continue to evaluate our next steps."
A spokesperson from Anand's office told CBC News that the minister's comments were meant "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."
Israel attacked Hamas headquarters in Qatar on Tuesday, killing five of its members as the group's top figures gathered to consider a U.S. proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza.
The attack sparked sweeping condemnation from Western leaders, as Qatar has served as a key mediator between Israel and Hamas throughout the nearly two-year-long war.
Prime Minister Mark Carney called the attack "an intolerable expansion of violence and an affront to Qatar's sovereignty" in a statement on Tuesday.
Even U.S. President Donald Trump, seen as one of Israel's staunchest allies, distanced himself from the Israeli strike in Qatar.
"This was a decision made by [Israeli] Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu, it was not a decision made by me. Unilaterally bombing inside Qatar, a Sovereign Nation and close Ally of the United States, that is working very hard and bravely taking risks with us to broker Peace, does not advance Israel or America's goals," Trump wrote in a social media post on Tuesday.
The war in Gaza has already left Israel increasingly isolated internationally, with many of its Western allies calling for it to end the war and do more to address the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, parts of which are experiencing famine.
The strike in Qatar further widens Israel's campaign against Hamas, which launched an attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, that killed 1,200 people and saw more than 250 taken hostage, prompting a military campaign by Israel on Gaza that has killed more than 60,000 people.
The 27-nation European Union is deeply divided in its approach to Israel and the Palestinians, and it's unclear whether a majority will be found to endorse von der Leyen's call for sanctions and trade measures.
Several countries, including Canada, are planning on officially recognizing a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly this month.
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