Tensions emerge in the Liberal caucus over Canada's UN vote for a Gaza ceasefire
CBC
The federal government's decision to back a UN resolution calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza conflict without certain conditions has prompted a mix of reactions from Liberal MPs.
Some say they hope it will bring about peace. Others say it amounts to Canada abandoning Israel while it's at war with extremists.
Some Liberal MPs take issue with the wording of the UN resolution, which demands an immediate humanitarian ceasefire but does not explicitly call on Hamas to lay down its arms.
The resolution stipulates that "all parties" should "comply with their obligations under international law."
But Hamas — a militant group that has been labelled a terrorist organization by a number of Western countries, including Canada — doesn't adhere to international law. Some supporters of Israel have said the language of the resolution imposes an unfair burden on the country.
In fact, the resolution doesn't even mention the word "Hamas." It also doesn't rule out allowing Hamas to participate in future governments in the Gaza Strip.
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly defended the vote, saying there must be an end to "the cycle of violence" that has killed many innocents and left an untold number of Palestinians without water, food, fuel, medicine or shelter.
Bob Rae, Canada's ambassador to the UN, said Canada is "alarmed at the diminishing safe space for civilians" in Gaza as Israel pushes further into the south of that territory in its efforts to destroy Hamas.
"The ongoing humanitarian crisis has weighed heavily in Canada's decision to support this resolution," Rae said.
Liberal MP Anthony Housefather, a Jewish MP who has emerged as a prominent voice for his community in caucus, said he's "very disappointed" in Canada's UN vote.
He said it's "unacceptable" for Canada to throw its weight behind a ceasefire motion that doesn't clearly stipulate that Hamas must drop its weapons and stop fighting Israel.
Housefather said Hamas can't be trusted — it broke the existing ceasefire when it launched its brutal attack on Israel on October 7 — and he accused the militant group of violating the humanitarian pause that was put in place last month to get aid in and foreign nationals and hostages out.
"The motion was an unconditional call for a ceasefire. I do not support an unconditional call for a ceasefire. I do not believe a majority of my constituents support an unconditional call for a ceasefire. It's my obligation to speak out when I think Canada has abandoned its traditional position at the UN in support of Israel at a time when Israel is at war," Housefather said.
He said Israel has been "singled out far too often at international organizations."
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