Informed Comment Homepage

Thoughts on the Middle East, History and Religion

Header Right

Donate

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google+
  • Email
  • RSS
  • Featured
  • US politics
  • Middle East
  • Environment
  • US Foreign Policy
  • Energy
  • Economy
  • Politics
  • About
  • Archives
  • Submissions

© 2023 Informed Comment

  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Israel/ Palestine

Canada’s Trudeau calls for inquiry into Israeli Killings in Gaza

AFP 05/17/2018

Tweet
Share508
Reddit
Email
508 Shares

Ottawa (AFP) – Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday called for an “independent investigation” after the death of 60 Palestinians killed by the Israeli army during protests on Monday.

“Reported use of excessive force and live ammunition is inexcusable,” he said. “It is imperative we establish the facts of what is happening in Gaza.”

“Canada calls for an immediate independent investigation to thoroughly examine the facts on the ground — including any incitement, violence, and the excessive use of force.”

Monday’s violence coincided with the controversial inauguration of the new US embassy in Jerusalem, which broke with decades of international tradition.

Israel justified the use of force against Palestinian protesters by citing the need to defend its borders, which the demonstrators were trying to overwhelm.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians had gathered near the border while smaller numbers approached the fence and sought to break through.

Trudeau offered Canadian assistance in the probe, while vowing to work with partners and multilateral institutions “to address this serious situation.”

The prime minister also said he is “appalled” that a Canadian doctor, Tarek Loubani, was among at least 2,400 unarmed protestors, media, first responders and children wounded.

“We are doing everything we can to assist Dr Loubani and his family, and to determine how a Canadian citizen came to be injured,” he said.

“We are engaging with Israeli officials to get to the bottom of these events.”

Canada has been a longstanding ally and supporter of Israel, but the Trudeau administration has been more critical of some of its policies regarding settlements and refugees than the previous Conservative government.

Now in opposition, the Conservatives said in February that they would recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital if they win power in the next election in 2019.

Featured photo: AFP/File / Lars Hagberg. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was “appalled” that a Canadian doctor was among at least 2,400 wounded along the Gaza border with Israel.

Filed Under: Israel/ Palestine

About the Author

AFP is a global news agency delivering fast, accurate, in-depth coverage of the events shaping our world from conflicts to politics, economics, sports, entertainment and the latest breakthroughs in health, science and technology. Headquartered in Paris, France, and founded in 1835, Agence France Presse is the third largest news agency in the world, after the Associated Press (AP) and Reuters. It has bureaus in 150 countries.

Primary Sidebar

STAY INFORMED

Join our newsletter and have sharp analysis delivered to your inbox every day.

Twitter

Follow Juan Cole @jricole or Informed Comment @infcomment on Twitter

Facebook



Sign up for our newsletter

Informed Comment © 2023 All Rights Reserved

Posting....