(Ottawa) Fault lines with the official position of Justin Trudeau’s government are beginning to appear among Liberal troops, while more and more MPs believe that a cease-fire is desirable in the Middle East.
“A ceasefire must be demanded,” said MP Shafqat Ali, upon his arrival at the weekly caucus meeting on Wednesday.
Mr. Ali, who represents a suburban Toronto riding, insisted that “history shows that violence has never solved problems.”
And he did not hesitate to say that “of course” Israel – just like Hamas – violates international humanitarian law. “Bombarding hospitals, civilians, by anyone is not respecting international law,” he added.
A few moments earlier, his Montreal colleague from Pierrefonds—Dollard, Sameer Zuberi, wiped away his tears in front of journalists by affirming that his government should “name things clearly” regarding the bombing of the Gaza Strip by the army Israeli.
We must clearly recognize that the bombs fall on innocent children, adults, elderly people, who are dropped by the Israeli military. A butcher’s shop, that’s what it is.
Sameer Zuberi
Mr. Zuberi did little to hide his discomfort with the position of his political party the day after the explosion which would have left nearly 500 dead in a hospital in Gaza, according to Hamas.
“I am a member of the party that forms the government,” he replied when asked whether Ottawa should demand a ceasefire rather than reiterating Israel’s right to defend itself in the limits of international humanitarian law.
Likewise, the MP, a Muslim, lawyer by training and former soldier trained in the Geneva conventions, refused to say whether Israel is committing war crimes, or even genocide, not without broadly emphasizing the relevance of the question.
” It’s a good question. We have to ask the question, Mr. Zuberi said, his voice trembling. To say that in my capacity as a deputy, I do not want to do that. But I think we need to ask this question clearly. »
But the idea of demanding a ceasefire is far from gaining consensus among liberals.
“Israel has the right to defend itself. Israel was attacked by a terrorist group,” replied MP Anthony Housefather, who is Jewish.
Manitoba MP Ben Carr also rejected the proposal since Hamas “continues to hold hostages it took from Israel during the attack” and the organization designated as terrorist by Canada “will simply rebuild and Israel will still be threatened.”
So far, the New Democratic Party is the only federal party recognized in the House of Commons to call for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas.
Is such a position realistic in the current context, New Democratic leader Jagmeet Singh was asked in the afternoon.
PHOTO JUSTIN TANG, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Jagmeet Singh
“It’s humanist. It’s compassion. Because we are in a situation where if the violence continues, we will have more deaths, more destruction. This is why we demand that all the hostages be released and a ceasefire can save lives. »
In the Bloc Québécois, leader Yves-François Blanchet, who insists on “the need to neutralize Hamas,” does not see how a ceasefire could occur.
“Everyone wants a ceasefire. I want a ceasefire. […] How can we not want a ceasefire? […] I’m just saying that, for the moment, saying it for the sake of saying it is a posture that is perhaps not realistic,” he declared.
In the Conservative Party, leader Pierre Poilievre did not appear before journalists, but his lieutenant for Quebec, Pierre Paul-Hus, reiterated that “Israel has the right to defend itself” and that it must “respect international laws.
He avoided a direct question about whether Israel actually respects them. “It’s one of the things that, I think, the government is having discussions with partners,” he said.