Anand says Canada reviewing relationship with Israel

Anita Anand says Canada is “evaluating the relationship with Israel” after Prime Minister Mark Carney denounced Israel’s strike in Qatar as an “intolerable” breach of sovereignty.

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Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand says Canada is “evaluating the relationship with Israel” after Prime Minister Mark Carney denounced Israel’s strike in Qatar as an “intolerable” breach of sovereignty.

On Tuesday, Israel’s Defense Forces said its strike in Doha targeted senior Hamas leaders.

Qatar has been the principal mediator between Hamas and Israel during the negotiation process since Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attack, murdering around 1,200 civilians, including eight Canadians.

In a statement posted to X, the Prime Minister’s Office said the strike represented “an intolerable expansion of violence and an affront to Qatar’s sovereignty.”

Carney warned that such actions “pose a grave risk of escalating conflict throughout the region.”

“These attacks directly imperil efforts to advance peace and security, secure the release of all hostages, and achieve a lasting ceasefire — efforts in which Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani plays a highly constructive role,” the statement read.

Speaking on Wednesday, Anand echoed the prime minister’s remarks, calling the attack “unacceptable” and saying Ottawa is consulting allies.

“While Hamas must release its Israeli hostages in Gaza, Israel’s strike on Qatar was an unacceptable breach of the sovereignty of a country trying to facilitate peace talks,” she said.

Meanwhile, Israel carried out another round of heavy airstrikes in Yemen on Wednesday, days after Houthi rebels launched a drone attack that struck an Israeli airport.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced she would push for sanctions and a partial suspension of trade ties with Israel over the war in Gaza.

Political commentator Warren Kinsella criticized Carney’s stance, drawing a parallel with past U.S. counterterrorism operations.

“On May 2, 2011, the Americans killed Osama bin Laden at his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. Mark Carney is now going to condemn that, too, right? I mean, if he attacks Israel for going after Hamas in Qatar, it’s only consistent, right?” he wrote.

MacDonald-Laurier Institute Fellow Casey Bobb joined in on the critique.

“Hamas killed eight Canadians on October 7th. Israel then hunted down and killed those responsible. In response, Canada is now ‘evaluating’ its relationship with Israel, nothing makes sense anymore,” he said.

Anand did not comment on whether Canada is considering sanctioning Israel, but for now, Ottawa is reassessing its approach to Israel in light of recent events.

The federal government is poised to continue its formal recognition of the state of Palestine this month at the UN General Assembly, which started on Tuesday.