Canada says it’s ‘evaluating’ its ties with 'Israel' after Doha strike
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This marks another sign of Canada’s growing frustration with the policies of the Israeli government.
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Canada Foreign Minister Anita Anand addresses the United Nations General Assembly, Monday, July 28, 2025. (AP)
Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand announced on Wednesday that Ottawa is reevaluating its relations with "Israel" following the recent airstrike in Qatar that targeted senior Hamas negotiators. The statement marks another sign of Canada’s growing frustration with the policies of the Israeli government.
Speaking at the Liberal Party’s meeting in Edmonton, Anand described the attack in Doha as “unacceptable”, stressing that it undermined Qatar’s ongoing mediation efforts in West Asia.
“We are evaluating our relationship with Israel,” Anand told reporters. When pressed on whether sanctions were being considered, she said, “We will continue to evaluate our next steps.”
The remarks came after the European Commission announced its intention to propose suspending trade-related measures with "Israel", raising speculation that Canada could take similar action.
Carney’s shift toward recognizing Palestine
Prime Minister Mark Carney has steered Canadian foreign policy in a new direction since replacing Justin Trudeau in January. In July, Carney declared that Canada would formally recognize the State of Palestine at the UN General Assembly this September.
Carney sharply condemned the Doha airstrike, calling it “an intolerable expansion of violence” that risks escalating tensions across the region. He has also criticized "Israel’s" declared plan to seize Gaza City, describing it last month as “wrong”. This contrasts with Trudeau’s tenure, during which Canada generally supported "Israel’s" war on Gaza, though occasionally voicing concerns about the scale of civilian casualties.
Opposition parties, including the New Democratic Party, have gone further, labeling "Israel’s" actions in Gaza as “genocide” and demanding stronger action, such as arms embargoes. Civil society groups have also urged Ottawa to back accountability measures under international law.
Despite this shift in rhetoric, critics note that Canada continues to export arms to "Israel" while offering limited humanitarian support for Palestinians, raising questions about the depth of its new policy approach.
Global condemnations
The airstrike on Doha has been widely denounced as a violation of Qatar’s sovereignty. Arab states, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Jordan, and Egypt, condemned the attack as a “blatant violation of international law” and voiced full solidarity with Qatar. The Gulf Cooperation Council described it as a “despicable and cowardly operation,” while the Arab League also pledged support for Doha.
European leaders joined in the criticism, with French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Germany’s Foreign Ministry labeling the strike unacceptable and destabilizing. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres likewise condemned the assault as a “flagrant violation of sovereignty,” noting Qatar’s important role in mediation efforts.
