Carney denounces Gaza takeover plan, avoids sanctions on 'Israel'

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
Today 00:04

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney condemned "Israel's" Gaza takeover plan as worsening humanitarian conditions while opting for negotiations over immediate retaliation to new US tariffs on Canadian goods.

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Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney pose during a group photo at the G7 Summit, Monday, June 16, 2025, in Kananaskis, Canada (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has condemned "Israel's" declared plan to seize full control of the Gaza Strip. Speaking Friday at Canadian Forces Base Trenton, Carney acknowledged that the operation would worsen conditions for civilians and heighten the danger for captives still held in Gaza.

"I would say, first, we join others, many others in in viewing that this is wrong, that this action is not going to contribute to an improvement in the humanitarian situation on the ground. It is going to put the lives of the hostages at greater risk rather than lessening it," Carney told reporters.

While repeating Canada's call for Hamas to release the remaining captives, return the bodies of those killed, and accept exclusion from a future Palestinian state envisioned by Western governments, Carney also admitted that "Israel's" latest actions jeopardize regional stability efforts. Resistance factions, including Hamas, have made clear they will oppose any plan aimed at cementing foreign military control over Gaza.

Asked whether Ottawa would consider sanctions on "Israel" in light of its escalating offensive, Carney avoided a direct answer. "Look ... there's various routes ... We've made announcements. I'm not on the cusp of making another announcement at this point," he said.

His comments came a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to impose full military control over Gaza, forcibly displace about one million Palestinians from Gaza City, and transfer the territory to a so-called "civilian administration" that excludes Hamas and the Palestinian Authority. The Israeli security cabinet has already endorsed the plan, with forces preparing for an assault on Gaza City.

Netnayahu further promised that the occupation would be temporary and that humanitarian aid would be allowed outside combat zones. But given "Israel’s" long history of indefinite military presence in occupied territories and its continued blockade of Gaza, critics argue that these assurances ring hollow.

Tariff Dispute

Carney also addressed the escalating trade conflict with Washington, saying Canada would not immediately retaliate against newly announced US tariffs, preferring to keep negotiating. "We're in a position where we have the prospect or we're engaged in discussions with the US, as you know, and have been for some time," he said, referring to Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) talks.

He stressed that 85% of bilateral trade remains unaffected, despite US President Donald Trump's August 1 decision to raise tariffs on lumber, steel, aluminum, and automobiles from 25% to 35%. The latest hike is part of a broader wave of US tariffs targeting multiple countries, with Washington claiming Ottawa has failed to stem fentanyl trafficking into the US. Carney rejected that claim, noting Canada accounts for only 1% of such imports and is taking action to reduce them.

The tariff dispute is the latest flare-up in a trade relationship already strained earlier in 2025, when the Trump administration imposed sweeping duties on Canadian imports, measures Canada countered with billions in retaliatory tariffs targeting US goods. Ottawa has also committed up to C$1.2 billion to support industries hit hardest by US measures, particularly the lumber sector, which has long been at the center of recurring Canada-US trade battles.

Despite these tensions, CUSMA continues to shield most cross-border trade from tariffs, maintaining duty-free access for the majority of goods exchanged between the two countries.