‘Totally unacceptable’ that IDF fired shots near Canadians, Carney says

Prime Minister Mark Carney has expressed his outrage at the recent incident in which members of the Israeli army fired shots near a diplomatic delegation, which included Canadians, in the West Bank. Carney called the incident “totally unacceptable” and demanded a full investigation and immediate explanation of what happened.

The federal government confirmed that four members of a Canadian delegation were part of a tour in the city of Jenin when shots were fired by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF). Two of the individuals were Canadians, while the other two were local staff. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand’s office stated that they were safe but would be summoning the Israeli ambassador to convey Canada’s serious concerns.

Video footage of the incident captured the delegation members being pulled away by security as gunshots rang out in the background. The IDF claimed that the tour group had deviated from the approved route, and warning shots were fired to prompt them to move. The IDF expressed regret for the inconvenience caused.

Carney’s reaction to the incident comes amidst growing international condemnation of Israel’s actions, particularly in Gaza. Carney, along with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, had recently threatened to impose sanctions on Israel due to its denial of essential humanitarian assistance in Gaza. They also opposed any attempt to expand Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

In response to the joint statement from Carney, Starmer, and Macron, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned it as a prize for Hamas’s attack on Israel. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre also criticized the statement, arguing that threatening Israel with sanctions while Hamas continues to attack is wrong.

Despite the threats of sanctions, it is unclear what specific actions Canada will take if Israel does not change course. Thomas Juneau, a political science professor at the University of Ottawa, believes that only significant pressure from the United States could prompt Israel to change its actions.

Meanwhile, the United Nations has issued a dire warning about the humanitarian situation in Gaza, where 14,000 babies are at risk of acute malnutrition if food supplies are not allowed to reach them. Aid groups have raised concerns about the distribution of humanitarian aid, but Israel has begun allowing trucks to deliver supplies to Gaza.

As the situation continues to unfold, it is clear that international pressure is mounting on Israel to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and refrain from escalating tensions in the region. Prime Minister Carney’s strong stance on the recent incident involving Canadian diplomats underscores Canada’s commitment to upholding international norms and promoting peace in the Middle East.