Canada PM rescinds remarks on Gaza genocide amid Netanyahu's rebuke
2 Min Read
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged his Canadian counterpart to backtrack on his "irresponsible statement!”
-
Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks during a campaign rally at the Metropolitan Centre in Toronto, Ontario, on April 4, 2025 (AFP)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has denounced his Canadian Liberal counterpart Mark Carney for what he called an “irresponsible” remark implying "Israel" is committing genocide in Gaza.
The criticism came after Carney, speaking at a Tuesday rally, was interrupted by a pro-Palestine protester who shouted, “There’s a genocide happening in Gaza.” Carney responded, “I’m aware, that’s why we have an arms embargo.”
"Israel" is facing a genocide case brought by South Africa before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), in which the occupation entity is accused of breaching the 1948 United Nations Genocide Convention in its ongoing war on the Palestinian Gaza Strip.
Netanyahu posted a video of the exchange on his official X account Thursday night, writing, “Canada has always sided with civilization. So should Mr. Carney.” He continued, "But instead of supporting Israel, a democracy that is fighting a just war with just means against the barbarians of Hamas, he attacks the one and only Jewish state."
Netanyahu urged Carney to “backtrack your irresponsible statement!”
Canada has always sided with civilization. So should Mr. Carney. But instead of supporting Israel, a democracy that is fighting a just war with just means against the barbarians of Hamas, he attacks the one and only Jewish state. Mr. Carney, backtrack your irresponsible… https://t.co/27ZcXjew85
— Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) April 10, 2025
When asked about the incident during a press conference Wednesday, Carney claimed he did not hear the word “genocide”, explaining, “You were there, I guess — It was noisy, you get… if you’re up there, you hear snippets of what people say.”
A senior Israeli government official told the Toronto Sun that Carney’s comments were “unfortunate” and misrepresented Canada’s stance.
The official also rejected Carney’s mention of an arms embargo, clarifying that “there is no embargo, just a suspension of a limited number of permits,” and added, “Of course, I don’t think Canada believes that there’s any sort of genocide," with a death toll in the strip nearing 51,000 people and mass destruction that has ravaged the enclave.
