Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand expressed her condolences to the family of a Canadian citizen who was killed in Lebanon. However, she refrained from imposing sanctions on Israel, as requested by civil society groups. Anand mentioned that peace talks between Lebanon and Israel were ongoing in Washington, D.C., with hopes for a ceasefire.
Anand disclosed that she was in the process of contacting Israeli officials but had not spoken to any since the incident. When asked about summoning Israel’s ambassador for a diplomatic démarche, Anand stated that she was addressing the situation through bilateral and humanitarian engagement.
The family of the deceased individual stated that he was killed in a drone attack while trying to assist someone in need. The sister of the victim, Fatima Haidar, recounted his final moments before the tragic incident and criticized Israel for the loss.
Liberal MP-elect Doly Begum, known for her criticism of Israel, refrained from commenting on the issue of sanctions, emphasizing the need to work with the foreign affairs ministry and listen to her community.
Begum, who recently joined the federal Liberal Party, previously served as the deputy leader of the Ontario NDP, where she strongly criticized Israel’s actions in Gaza. She highlighted the importance of addressing various issues, including the Middle East conflict, within the government.