Israel and Hamas at war | Palestinian ambassador says she warned Ottawa of rising tensions

(Ottawa) The Palestinian ambassador to Canada says she warned Ottawa six months ago that growing tensions in the region would explode into violence.

“It is not a question of justifying or not, [mais] if you blow into a balloon, it will eventually burst,” illustrated the chief representative of the Palestinian general delegation in Canada, Mona Abuamara, in an interview with The Canadian Press.

She revealed that she conveyed this message to officials at Global Affairs Canada about six months ago, describing the conversation as focused on “what could happen.”

M^me Abuamara added that Israel’s “far-right government” had made peace initiatives more difficult. According to her, the Palestinians want Canada to speak out on cases in which Israel has violated international law, citing the siege of Gaza or the expansion of certain settlements.

“Simply apply the international law that is so important to you – that is our only request,” asked Ms.^me Abuamara between meetings with MPs on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.

She said she was deeply troubled by the recent bloodshed in the region, where more than 4,000 people have died on both sides of an escalating Middle East conflict.

This episode began when Hamas killed hundreds of Israelis in surprise attacks on October 7. Israel responded by firing rockets into the Gaza Strip and cutting off water, food and electricity to the Palestinian territory.

M^me Abuamara said Canada should support a ceasefire and push Israel to work toward Ottawa’s long-standing policy of a “two-state solution” in the region.

She would also like Canada to advocate for the establishment of a humanitarian corridor to help people trying to flee the Gaza Strip.

Israel insists it is trying to eliminate Hamas leaders in the Gaza Strip to prevent terrorist attacks. Israeli leaders say they do not target civilians.

But the United Nations has declared that the current siege of the Gaza Strip violates international law.