Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s statement goes a step further — in both tone and content — than past comments
An elderly Palestinian man falls on the ground after being shot by Israeli troops during a deadly protest at the Gaza Strip’s border with Israel on May 14, 2018. (Khalil Hamra/The Associated Press)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is calling for answers after a Canadian doctor was among hundreds injured in a violent clash at the Gaza border Monday, while condemning what he calls an “excessive use of force.”
Two days after a bloody encounter with Israeli soldiers killed more than 50 Palestinians and wounded many more, Trudeau issued a statement to the parliamentary press gallery Wednesday demanding Israel’s leaders explain how a London, Ont. doctor tending to injured protesters was caught in the crossfire — while throwing his support behind calls for an independent investigation.
“Canada deplores and is gravely concerned by the violence in the Gaza Strip that has led to a tragic loss of life and injured countless people. We are appalled that Dr. Tarek Loubani, a Canadian citizen, is among the wounded — along with so many unarmed people, including civilians, members of the media, first responders, and children,” he said.
“We are doing everything we can to assist Dr. Loubani and his family, and to determine how a Canadian citizen came to be injured. We are engaging with Israeli officials to get to the bottom of these events.”
Dr. Loubani was reportedly shot in the leg while treating injured protesters.
In this Monday, Sept. 7, 2015 photo, Dr. Tarek Loubani, a Palestinian-Canadian doctor, poses for a picture with 3D printed stethoscope around his neck, in Gaza City. In a territory lacking many basic medical supplies, Dr. Tarek Loubani says he has designed a stethoscope that can be made by a 3-D printer for just $2.50 _ a fraction of the cost of leading brands. Some doctors say the equipment is just as good. (Khalil Hamra/Associated Press)
Trudeau’s statement goes a step further — in both tone and content — than his previous statement on the violent flare-up at the border, which occurred shortly after the opening of the relocated U.S. embassy in Jerusalem.
The city is contested, with both Israelis and Palestinians claiming it as their capital. For that reason, most foreign embassies in Israel are based in the city of Tel Aviv.
Reported use of excessive force and live ammunition is inexcusable. It is imperative we establish the facts of what is happening in Gaza. Canada calls for an immediate independent investigation.– Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Gaza violence on Wednesday
When asked Tuesday if he thought Israel had used excessive force, Trudeau avoided condemning it directly — instead calling for an end to violence and a two-state solution through direct negotiations “that is mutually agreed by both” Israel and Palestine.
Israeli forces killed 59 Palestinians — mostly by gunfire — and injured more than 2,700 more on Monday, the Gaza Health Ministry said. The ministry said about 1,360 people were struck by gunshots during the melee, and that 130 of those injured were in serious or critical condition.
‘Inexcusable’
Human rights groups have said Israel’s open-fire order was unlawful under international humanitarian law.
Israeli soldiers guard on top of a watch tower in a community along the Israel- Gaza Strip Border, Tuesday, May 15, 2018. Thousands joined funeral processions Tuesday for some of the dozens of Palestinians killed by Israeli troops in a mass march on the Gaza border, as Israelis faced growing diplomatic fallout from the use of lethal force against unarmed protesters. (Ariel Schalit/Associated Press)
The latest Trudeau statement also goes one step beyond public comments made by Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland. On Monday, she said she was “deeply concerned” about the violence, saying “all parties to the conflict have a responsibility to ensure civilians are protected.”
Today, Trudeau seemed to single out some of the Israel Defense Forces’ actions as “inexcusable.” But he also referred to “incitement.” Some have accused Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist political organization that controls Gaza, of urging protesters to get closer to the border fence, provoking a violent reaction from Israeli soldiers.
“Reported use of excessive force and live ammunition is inexcusable. It is imperative we establish the facts of what is happening in Gaza. Canada calls for an immediate independent investigation to thoroughly examine the facts on the ground — including any incitement, violence, and the excessive use of force,” Trudeau said.
The prime minister’s remarks drew swift criticism from Conservative Ontario Sen. Linda Frum.
“Hamas itself acknowledges that 50 of the casualties in battle at Gaza Strip border were its own gunmen. Yet @JustinTrudeau has condemnation only for Israel — and cannot even bring himself to mention the terrorist group that incited the violence and hopes to benefit from it,” she tweeted.
The prime minister did not mention Israel by name in his statement.
Senator Linda Frum?@LindaFrum
Hamas itself acknowledges that 50 of the casualties in battle at Gaza Strip border were its own gunmen. Yet @JustinTrudeau has condemnation only for Israel – and cannot even bring himself to mention the terrorist group that incited the violence and hopes to benefit from it https://twitter.com/JustinTrudeau/status/996839592727900160 …
“Trudeau calls Israel’s effort to protect 1948 internationally recognized border against armed incursion ‘appalling.’ True friends of Israel knew it was only a matter of time,” Frum tweeted. “First opportunity in office to defend Israel’s right to self defence & our PM condemns Israel not Hamas.”
Trudeau’s statement also drew criticism from the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs. Its CEO, Shimon Koffler Fogel, issued a media release saying it is “deeply disappointed the government’s statement ignores Hamas’ direct responsibility for recent violence on the Israel-Gaza border.
“This contradicts the government’s long-stated position that, as a close ally and fellow liberal democracy, Israel can count on Canada’s support when its security is threatened. It also disregards Hamas’ claim today that 50 of 62 fatalities in the latest attempts to breach the border were Hamas members.”
Trudeau said Canada was ready to assist in an investigation. “We will work closely with our international partners and through international institutions to address this serious situation.”
Canada now joins Germany, Spain, the U.K. and Belgium in demanding such a probe. The U.S. vetoed that demand at a meeting of the United Nations Security Council yesterday.
Justin Trudeau says the only way to end the violence is for Israel and Palestine to find a negotiated two-state solution. 1:08
@ dreuveni:
I doubt your comment, only because I believe that Trudeau does NOT “think”. Spoiled adults with arrested development don’t “think”. They act from impulse, and always foolishly and wrongly. Trudeau is a”Picture Boy” alright, but only to show how far cretins can go, if properly funded and steered.
The EU curses are Merkel, Macron and May (?)….Canada;s curse is Trudeau. Ireland’s curse is the Irish People.
Trudeau is like the “Goldfarb Diamond” story. Mrs. Goldfarb was showing it to friends, and said it was like the “Hope Diamond”, with an attached “curse”..(she pronounced it “coyse”) “How thrilling” they all said..”What was the curse”..? Mrs… G.. “Goldfarb”…!!
Trudeau should explain why people like his friend, Dr. Tarek Loubani, went to the border fence after being aware of the fact that they might be shot at if they approach the fence.
This doctor was simply following the call of Hamas to become cannon fodder, but Trudeau probably thinks this was heroic.
@ leonkushner:
And doesn’t speak for me either. He can get his report from Dr. Tarik Shmarik who was there…Why was he there…? he knew that the Arab dogs would create a determined effort to break the barrier, why wasn’t he at a hospital waiting for the wounded. i hope he got shot in the behind so that whenever he sits down in future he will be reminded of his stupidity. Besides advertising cheap stethoscopes and wearing a “white coat”. how was he clearly identified as a Dr. Did he carry a huge placard over his head,…? The bullet probably missed someone else and got him. And maybe it’s just another hoax. Odd that a wounded person has to be a “helping” foreigner. Very important for the “cause”. The IDF was obviously firing low to minimise damage. Terrorists dress up as everyone, including Yeshiva students with peyot, also use ambulances and phony doctors, to carry terrorists and explosives.
By the way, I think that the old man in the first picture is a supporting actor in the PR Brigade. He is reported “shot”. He looks at least 70-…what is he doing there..? Also both hands and legs seems in working order, he’s using them anyway, and there is no blood on his shirt…NO BLOOD… no ARROWS pointing to it……Hamas forgot a vital prop. a gallon of goat’s blood,
MAHAMMED EL DURA ..WHERE ARE YOU….? (probably sitting in Car 54)
Again, as for Trudeau, he should be told in no uncertain terms to bugger off back to his teething ring and rattle-and playing with his nurses unmentionables….nicely of course, ( if hasn’t a nurse, then his “Keeper”) I think said in French would be more effective.
Trudeau time after time proves that he is a dangerous idiot of the similar scale (though lesser, of course) as Obama, 1st Islamic president of US. Trudeau’s “tango” with Muslim fanatics and terrorists doesn’t make Canada any safer than other places where Muslims got the same freedom of preaching hatred against the western values. The same “politeness” has brought already the majority of the North European countries – Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Belgium, etc – to the current state of the actual Sharia law ruling in their lands and soon there will be a big Khalifat with the compulsory Quran teaching instead of Bible.
Trudeau does not have 40000 people incited to violence on his border, setting fire to farmland, burning tyres, throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails and both trying to plant explosives, flying kite bombs, shooting at IDF soldiers and trying to break the border fence with the admitted intent to kill civilians. Easy to play leftist, globalist slimy politics from a position of complete safety. I reckon the USA should build a highway from the Mexican border to the Canadian border wall it on both sides and drive the illegals from all over South America, Syria, Iraq and North Africa with their ISIS content, from racistsonbe end to the other and let Trudeau deal with the invasion, seeing that he is so humanitarian that he won’t even condemn Hamas for their numerous heinous war crimes, putting children in harms way and his accepting the lies of the fake media and treating this malicious and violent rioting as a peaceful demonstration when the whole World knows it is not. The treatment of Israel by the likes of Trudeau, media and UN,EU Etc.demonstrate what racist bigots and hypocrites they really are. Then they cry when the terrorists that Israel has to live with daily, strike them.
One more time: Justin Trudeau does not represent me nor does he represent the majority of Canadians any more. It was a huge mistake to elect him as our PM and I am angered and embarrassed by him on an almost daily basis.