(Ottawa) Canada’s Prime Minister is calling for a de-escalation of tensions in the Middle East, even though he refrained on Friday from condemning Israel for an alleged retaliatory strike in Iran.
Justin Trudeau said Canada condemns Iran’s “absolutely irresponsible” missile attack on Israel last weekend, saying it creates a risk of further escalation.
He once again called for more humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and for Hamas to surrender its weapons and release Israeli hostages.
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly also co-signed a lengthy statement that addresses the war between Israel and Hamas, the humanitarian situation in Gaza and attacks on ships off the coast of Yemen.
PHOTO REMO CASILLI, REUTERS ARCHIVES
Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly
The statement was issued in Italy by foreign ministers of the G7, which represents like-minded wealthy countries such as the United States and France.
They also condemned Iran for attacking Israel and noted reports that Israel was behind a drone attack on a major air base in Iran earlier Friday.
These two countries have been engaged in a “proxy war” for decades, but Iran struck Israel directly for the first time late last week, in retaliation for what Tehran believes was an Israeli attack on its embassy in Syria .
Canada, the United States and other countries had urged Israel not to retaliate, but the Israeli government insisted it would attack Iran.
Mr. Trudeau, who held a press conference in Victoria on Friday, stressed that G7 ministers all agreed that “everything must be done to prevent further escalation in the region” and reiterated his support for a solution to two states.
“This is the only long-term solution for peace and stability in the region: a peaceful, secure and democratic Israel living alongside a peaceful, secure and democratic Palestinian state,” he said.
Conservative foreign affairs critic Michael Chong suggested that the best way for Canada to promote peace in the region would be to cut funding to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). , a branch of the Iranian military.
“The biggest threat to peace in the region is the Iranian regime,” Chong said, referring to Iran’s support for Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis.
The Conservatives have called for the IRGC to be added to Canada’s list of terrorist organizations. The Liberals say they are currently studying this possibility.