Canada Weighing In...

"Using sexual violence as a tactic of war is a crime."

"[Canada strongly condemns sexual and gender-based violence] including rape, perpetrated by Hamas against women in Israel on October 7."

"We believe Israeli women."

Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly

 

"Sexual [and] gender-based violence impact both Israeli [and] Palestinian women and girls, and also men and boys, in distinct ways."

"Canada condemns all use of sexual and gender-based violence as a tactic of war."

"We advocate for justice for all victims and survivors."

"We must acknowledge that Israeli women and girls have been profoundly impacted by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas."

"Accounts of brutal sexual violence during the Oct.7 Hamas attacks are deeply concerning and must be investigated."

Canada's Tel Aviv Embassy 

Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly is seen during a news conference in Ottawa. Joly finally condemned sexual violence committed by Hamas during its attack on Israel, after weeks of pressure to speak out. Photo by Adrian Wyld /The Canadian Press

It took only two months for Melanie Joly's attention to swivel briefly to a series of atrocities that took place in southern Israel. Perhaps an aide recommended that she respond to the news and the ample evidence, some of it provided proudly by Hamas terrorists themselves as they went about expertly

savaging Israeli girls and women, torturing, mutilating, gang-raping and murdering them. Enthusiastically dispatching their orders and delighted to take videos showing the full sadism and satisfaction they experienced at the agony of their victims.

Two months to make a declaration that on behalf of Canada in response to the macabre show of inhumanity, she 'believes' Israeli women. As for the diplomatic staff at the Tel Aviv embassy conflating the horrors perpetrated by terrorists on Israeli girls and women, infants and the elderly, with Palestinian women, girls, boys and men, what were they thinking? The plight of the Palestinians when it comes to sexual abuse, rape, is brought upon them by Palestinian men. The implication in the Embassy statement had the effect of suggesting their suffering was linked to an Israeli response to the carnage by Hamas.

 

In the Canadian House of Commons opposition parties have pressed the Liberal government of Justin Trudeau for weeks to express condemnation of the sexual violence Hamas terrorists imposed on Israel. Pointing out that speaking out against violence in general fails to address the very particular issue of rape against girls and women in Israel that was proven to be inhumanity at its lowest level. Refusing to address that issue does violence to the suffering of the victims.

Even the leader of the New Democratic Party, which has never shied away from criticizing Israel and championing the 'suffering' of the Palestinians under Israeli 'occupation' had something to say about the use of rape as a weapon of war: Leader Jagmeet Singh informed delegates at his party's October 14 convention that "there can be no justification for the torture, murder and sexual violence committed by Hamas."

Member of Parliament Michelle Rempel Garner, of the Conservative Party called on the government to denounce the United Nations for failing to condemn the sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas terrorists on October 7. Parliamentary secretary Pam Damoff had responded that Canada condemns Hamas's "actions against women and other civilians". The Tel Aviv embassy's social media post came under criticism by the Conservatives as well for suggesting Palestinians have been victims of sexual violence in the conflict.

"You can't even get this right", observed Conservative deputy leader Melissa Lantsman of the original post. "Only one side is using rape as a tactic of war", added former Conservative Senator Linda Frum. Canada's envoy for combating antisemitism characterized as an anti-Jewish double standard the tendency to question reports of Hamas terrorists raping Israeli women.

"Now is not the time for misinformation [and] false moral equivalence."

"Only one side — Hamas — is using rape as a tactic of war."

Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs