OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney said Wednesday that it is “totally unacceptable” and demanded an “immediate explanation of what happened” after the Israeli military fired shots near a delegation of diplomats that the federal government says included four Canadians.Ìý
Speaking after a two-day closed cabinet retreat with ministers in his minority government, Carney told reporters the incident was “another example” of unacceptable occurrences in the region. It comes just days after Canada, the United Kingdom and France issued a joint statement condemning Israel’s renewed military offensive into Gaza, as well as the blockade that the United Nations says has prevented food and other aid from entering the occupied Palestinian territory, fuelling fears of spreading famine and further civilian death.Ìý
Carney also referenced how Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand has summoned Israel’s ambassador to Canada, Iddo Moed, to address her “serious concerns” about how the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) fired shots near the diplomatic delegation on Wednesday.Ìý
International media reports from earlier in the day, including from the Associated Press, said the diplomatic delegation was visiting the West Bank city of Jenin when Israeli soldiers fired warning shots in their vicinity.ÌýAccording to the Associated Press, the Israeli military apologized for the incident, which occurred after the delegation “deviated from the approved route” of their visit.Ìý
“We expect an immediate explanation of what happened. It’s totally unacceptable,” Carney said Wednesday, adding in French that “it’s another example” of something unacceptable happening in the Middle East.Ìý
Earlier, in a post on social media, Anand said she spoke with Canada’s top diplomat in Ramallah — a city in the Israeli-occupied West Bank — and confirmed four Global Affairs Canada personnel were part of the delegation.Ìý
“I can confirm (four) of our personnel were part of the delegation in West Bank when the IDF fired shots in their vicinity. Relieved to know our team is safe,” Anand on X.
“I have asked my officials to summon Israel’s ambassador to convey Canada’s serious concerns. We expect a full investigation and accountability.”
It’s the latest instance of tension between Canada and Israel this week, as the Middle Eastern state faces increasing pressure from European countries and others over the war against Hamas in Gaza, which Israel launched after the Hamas massacres of Oct. 7, 2023 that killed roughly 1,200 people and saw 251 more taken hostage.Ìý

This frame grab from AFPTV footage shows members of a diplomatic delegation from the European Union reacting after shots were fired as they gathered in the eastern entrance of Jenin camp during a visit to the city of Jenin, on Wednesday.
Mohammad Ateeq / Getty ImagesOn Monday, Canada joined the United Kingdom and France in it would take “concrete actions” and possible “targeted sanctions” against Israel over its renewed military offensive in the occupied territory of Gaza, where an Israeli blockade of humanitarian aid has about widespread starvation. Israeli airstrikes have since killed at least 85 people in Gaza, according to a report from the Associated Press.Ìý
The agency, citing figures from Gaza’s health minister, reports that Israel’s military offensive in the territoryÌýhas killed more than 53,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children.
In the wake of the joint statement, the U.K. suspended trade talks with Israel and laid down new sanctions targeting Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, which the International Criminal Court has illegal under international law.Ìý
Canada has not yet followed through on any new actions.Ìý
Asked Wednesday about possible actions Canada could take, Carney would only say it’s up to IsraelÌýto ensure “adequate international aid” gets into Gaza, where he said many people are “on the brink of starvation.”Ìý Ìý
Carney also said he told U.S. Vice-President JD Vance that Canada and its two allies would be releasing Monday’sÌýjoint statement, but “it wasn’t a conversation — I informed him. It wasn’t anything more than that.”Ìý
Meanwhile, Israel condemned the joint statement, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu alleging Canada wasÌý“offering a huge prize for the genocidal attack on Israel on Oct. 7 while inviting more such atrocities.”Ìý
Canada’s Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre also condemned the statement from Canada, France and the U.K., on X that to threaten sanctions against Israel “while a terrorist group on their borders holds their citizens hostage and refuses to stop attacking Israel is wrong.”Ìý
Poilievre added: “This war can end tomorrow if Hamas hands over the remaining hostages, lays down their weapons and surrenders. Conservatives will always stand for Israel’s right to exist and to defend itself.”
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