Approximately 10% of all MPs on Tuesday demanded a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in a petition rejected by the cabinet.According to Blacklock’s Reporter, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recommended a short “humanitarian pause” instead of a ceasefire.Among the 33 petitioners were nine Liberal committee chairs and parliamentary secretaries.“We support Israel’s right to defend itself,” Defence Minister Bill Blair told reporters. “They have been the victim of, quite frankly, a horrific terrorist attack and they do have the right under international law to defend themselves from that.”“Why won’t the government call for a ceasefire?” asked a reporter. “Israel was the victim of a terrorist attack,” replied Blair. “That threat still exists for them. Under international law, they have a right to defend themselves.”Blair stated that a ceasefire with Hamas would have no point. Hamas admitted to killing and taking Jews hostage, including eight Canadians, during an attack on Israel on October 7.Hamas, also known as Harakat Al-Muqawama Al-Islamiya, has been officially blacklisted as a terrorist organization in Canada since 2002.“I have no expectation that a terrorist organization would respect international law or any call for a ceasefire,” said Blair.“So Israel is still under threat even if there is a ceasefire?” asked a reporter. “That threat continues to persist,” replied Blair.“Does that mean Canada agrees with Israel that Hamas has to be destroyed?” asked a reporter. “Hamas has to be eliminated as a threat not just to Israel but to the world,” replied Blair. “They are a terrorist organization.”The prime minister said he supported a “humanitarian pause” but did not elaborate. “I think there’s a lot of conversations going on now about the need for humanitarian pauses,” said Trudeau. “I think that’s something Canada supports.”The remarks followed an October 20 petition signed by 33 Liberal, New Democrat and Green MPs demanding an “immediate ceasefire” in Israel. “The Palestinian people have suffered under occupation,” it said. “Canada must reaffirm its commitment to a free Palestinian state.”Signatories to the ceasefire petition included three Commons committee chairs: Liberal MPs René Arseneault (Madawaska-Restigouche, NB), chair of the Languages committee, George Chahal (Calgary Skyview, AB), chair of the Natural Resources committee, and Joel Lightbound (Louis-Hébert, QC), chair of the Industry committee.Six parliamentary secretaries also signed the petition: Liberal MPs Paul Chiang (Markham-Unionville, ON), secretary for Immigration, Iqra Khalid (Mississauga-Erin Mills, ON), secretary for Revenue, Irek Kusmierczyk (Windsor-Tecumseh, ON), secretary for Employment, Adam van Koeverden (Milton, ON), secretary for the Environment, Jennifer O’Connell (Pickering-Uxbridge, ON), secretary for Public Safety and Sameer Zuberi (Pierrefonds-Dollard, QC), secretary for Diversity.Other petitioners were Liberal MP Omar Alghabra (Mississauga Centre, ON), Liberal MP Shafqat Ali (Brampton Centre, ON), Liberal MP Chandra Arya (Nepean, ON), New Democrat MP Niki Ashton (Churchill-Keewatinook, MB), New Democrat MP Alexandre Boulerice (Rosemont-La Petite Patrie, QC), Liberal MP Tony Van Bynen (Newmarket-Aurora, ON), Liberal MP Shaun Chen (Scarborough North, ON), Liberal MP Michael Coteau (Don Valley East, ON), New Democrat MP Don Davies (Vancouver Kingsway, BC), Liberal MP Lena Diab (Halifax West, NS), Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith (Beaches-East York, ON) and New Democrat MP Leah Gazan (Winnipeg Centre, MB).It was also signed by Liberal MP Iqwinder Gaheer (Mississauga-Malton, ON), New Democrat MP Matthew Green (Hamilton Centre, ON), New Democrat MP Gord Johns (Courtenay-Alberni, BC), New Democrat MP Peter Julian (New Westminster-Burnaby, BC), Liberal MP Arielle Kayabaga (London West, ON), New Democrat MP Lindsay Mathyssen (London-Fanshawe, ON), Green MP Elizabeth May (Saanich-Gulf Islands, BC), Green MP Mike Morrice (Kitchener Centre, ON), Liberal MP Yasir Naqvi (Ottawa Centre, ON), Liberal MP Patrick Weiler (West Vancouver, BC), Liberal MP Jean Yip (Scarborough-Agincourt, ON) and Liberal MP Salma Zahid (Scarborough Centre, ON).On Tuesday, International Development Minister Ahmed Hussen said a ceasefire was out of the question. “A terrorist organization, Hamas, attacked Israeli civilians,” he said. “Israeli civilians were killed in their homes. Every country has the right to defend itself.”“None of our allies have called for a ceasefire,” said Hussen. “France did,” replied a reporter. “The fact of the matter is we are focused on evacuating Canadians,” said Hussen.
Approximately 10% of all MPs on Tuesday demanded a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in a petition rejected by the cabinet.According to Blacklock’s Reporter, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recommended a short “humanitarian pause” instead of a ceasefire.Among the 33 petitioners were nine Liberal committee chairs and parliamentary secretaries.“We support Israel’s right to defend itself,” Defence Minister Bill Blair told reporters. “They have been the victim of, quite frankly, a horrific terrorist attack and they do have the right under international law to defend themselves from that.”“Why won’t the government call for a ceasefire?” asked a reporter. “Israel was the victim of a terrorist attack,” replied Blair. “That threat still exists for them. Under international law, they have a right to defend themselves.”Blair stated that a ceasefire with Hamas would have no point. Hamas admitted to killing and taking Jews hostage, including eight Canadians, during an attack on Israel on October 7.Hamas, also known as Harakat Al-Muqawama Al-Islamiya, has been officially blacklisted as a terrorist organization in Canada since 2002.“I have no expectation that a terrorist organization would respect international law or any call for a ceasefire,” said Blair.“So Israel is still under threat even if there is a ceasefire?” asked a reporter. “That threat continues to persist,” replied Blair.“Does that mean Canada agrees with Israel that Hamas has to be destroyed?” asked a reporter. “Hamas has to be eliminated as a threat not just to Israel but to the world,” replied Blair. “They are a terrorist organization.”The prime minister said he supported a “humanitarian pause” but did not elaborate. “I think there’s a lot of conversations going on now about the need for humanitarian pauses,” said Trudeau. “I think that’s something Canada supports.”The remarks followed an October 20 petition signed by 33 Liberal, New Democrat and Green MPs demanding an “immediate ceasefire” in Israel. “The Palestinian people have suffered under occupation,” it said. “Canada must reaffirm its commitment to a free Palestinian state.”Signatories to the ceasefire petition included three Commons committee chairs: Liberal MPs René Arseneault (Madawaska-Restigouche, NB), chair of the Languages committee, George Chahal (Calgary Skyview, AB), chair of the Natural Resources committee, and Joel Lightbound (Louis-Hébert, QC), chair of the Industry committee.Six parliamentary secretaries also signed the petition: Liberal MPs Paul Chiang (Markham-Unionville, ON), secretary for Immigration, Iqra Khalid (Mississauga-Erin Mills, ON), secretary for Revenue, Irek Kusmierczyk (Windsor-Tecumseh, ON), secretary for Employment, Adam van Koeverden (Milton, ON), secretary for the Environment, Jennifer O’Connell (Pickering-Uxbridge, ON), secretary for Public Safety and Sameer Zuberi (Pierrefonds-Dollard, QC), secretary for Diversity.Other petitioners were Liberal MP Omar Alghabra (Mississauga Centre, ON), Liberal MP Shafqat Ali (Brampton Centre, ON), Liberal MP Chandra Arya (Nepean, ON), New Democrat MP Niki Ashton (Churchill-Keewatinook, MB), New Democrat MP Alexandre Boulerice (Rosemont-La Petite Patrie, QC), Liberal MP Tony Van Bynen (Newmarket-Aurora, ON), Liberal MP Shaun Chen (Scarborough North, ON), Liberal MP Michael Coteau (Don Valley East, ON), New Democrat MP Don Davies (Vancouver Kingsway, BC), Liberal MP Lena Diab (Halifax West, NS), Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith (Beaches-East York, ON) and New Democrat MP Leah Gazan (Winnipeg Centre, MB).It was also signed by Liberal MP Iqwinder Gaheer (Mississauga-Malton, ON), New Democrat MP Matthew Green (Hamilton Centre, ON), New Democrat MP Gord Johns (Courtenay-Alberni, BC), New Democrat MP Peter Julian (New Westminster-Burnaby, BC), Liberal MP Arielle Kayabaga (London West, ON), New Democrat MP Lindsay Mathyssen (London-Fanshawe, ON), Green MP Elizabeth May (Saanich-Gulf Islands, BC), Green MP Mike Morrice (Kitchener Centre, ON), Liberal MP Yasir Naqvi (Ottawa Centre, ON), Liberal MP Patrick Weiler (West Vancouver, BC), Liberal MP Jean Yip (Scarborough-Agincourt, ON) and Liberal MP Salma Zahid (Scarborough Centre, ON).On Tuesday, International Development Minister Ahmed Hussen said a ceasefire was out of the question. “A terrorist organization, Hamas, attacked Israeli civilians,” he said. “Israeli civilians were killed in their homes. Every country has the right to defend itself.”“None of our allies have called for a ceasefire,” said Hussen. “France did,” replied a reporter. “The fact of the matter is we are focused on evacuating Canadians,” said Hussen.
