The Oct. 7 assault by Hamas fighters on Israel final 12 months, and the speedy Israeli retaliation that adopted, despatched shockwaves all through the world which have shaken Canada culturally and politically.
Here’s a have a look at among the main developments in Canada associated to the battle.
Oct. 7, 2023 — Hamas-led militants launched air and floor assaults on Israel, killing practically 1,200 and taking greater than 250 hostages. The assaults, adopted hours later by Israeli counterattacks within the Gaza Strip, marked the start of the present Israel-Hamas battle.
Seven Canadians had been amongst these killed within the preliminary assault. World Affairs Canada has stated an eighth one who was not a citizen however had deep ties to Canada additionally died within the ensuing battle.
Within the 12 months since, Israel’s marketing campaign in Gaza in retaliation has killed greater than 41,000 Palestinians, simply over half them ladies and youngsters, in line with native well being officers.
Oct. 12, 2023 — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau introduced $10 million in humanitarian help for pressing wants in Israel and Gaza.
The identical day, the Canadian Armed Forces launched the primary assisted-departure flights out of Tel Aviv. Canada helped 1,600 residents, everlasting residents and eligible members of the family go away Israel on 19 flights over the course of 10 days.
Oct. 27, 2023 — Canada tried to amend a UN decision calling for a direct and sustained humanitarian truce to make sure it named Hamas particularly. Opponents of the modification derided it as one-sided, unequal and unfair, noting that the unique decision was expressly designed to keep away from chastising both social gathering.
In consequence, Canada abstained from the decision that referred to as for a direct and sustained humanitarian truce.
Nov. 4, 2023 — Trudeau had a telephone name with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, through which Trudeau expressed Canada’s assist for Israel and its proper to defend itself in accordance with worldwide regulation. Trudeau thanked Netanyahu for his assurance that Canadians in Gaza would be capable of go away within the coming days.
Nov. 6, 2023 — The federal government pledged $5 million to bolster safety round group centres and locations of worship after a fast enhance in experiences of hate-motived incidents and crimes in Canada. The cash was additionally accessible to daycares and workplace areas for communities in danger.
Nov. 7, 2023 — Two Jewish establishments, together with a synagogue, had been firebombed in a single day within the Montreal suburb of Dollard-des-Ormeaux. The incidents had been the primary of a number of related assaults and threats on Jewish group areas, synagogues and faculties over the course of the 12 months in a number of cities, together with Toronto and Vancouver.
The primary 59 individuals linked to Canada made it out of the Gaza Strip by way of the tightly managed Rafah border crossing into Egypt. By the top of the 12 months, greater than 600 Canadians and their speedy members of the family could be allowed to go away.
Nov. 9, 2023 — Canada voted on the UN to acknowledge “the very important function performed by UNRWA within the supply of pressing humanitarian help to Palestinian civilians.” That was a departure from Canada’s typical transfer to abstain from all votes supporting the UN aid company for Palestinian refugees.
Nov. 14, 2023 — Trudeau criticized Israel for the ever-mounting variety of civilian deaths in Gaza, pointing to an Israeli navy operation in and across the Al Shifa Hospital. Trudeau stated the world was witnessing the killing of ladies, kids and infants, and that it should cease. He urged Israel to train “most restraint.”
His feedback earned a swift rebuke from Netanyahu, who wrote on social media that Canada’s prime minister must be holding Hamas accountable for finishing up battle crimes in opposition to Israeli civilians on Oct. 7 after which hiding behind civilians in Gaza.
Dec. 12, 2023 — Canada issued its first official name for a ceasefire in a joint assertion with Australia and New Zealand. Canada additionally voted for a UN decision that supported a “humanitarian ceasefire” within the area.
Jan. 9, 2024 — The immigration minister launched a novel program — at first restricted to 1,000 purposes — designed to assist individuals in Gaza with prolonged household in Canada escape the besieged territory and search momentary refuge with their family members.
Jan. 11 — Toronto police stated they’d not permit demonstrations on a bridge over Freeway 401 in an space with a big Jewish inhabitants. Native residents had complained about feeling intimidated by the big occasions, whereas the pro-Palestinian organizers stated the placement was chosen out of comfort and never due to who lived close by.
Police stated the demonstrations had escalated and posed a menace to public security and warned individuals protesting on the bridge could be arrested if needed.
Jan. 26, 2024 — Canada suspended its funding for UNRWA, the United Nations Aid and Works Company for Palestine Refugees within the Close to East, after allegations some UNRWA workers performed a task within the Oct. 7 assault. At the least 16 nations reduce or suspended funding. The federal government promised to channel assist to Gaza by way of different organizations whereas the company investigated the claims.
March 8, 2024 — Reassured by an interim investigative report, Canada’s worldwide improvement minister reinstated funding for UNRWA.
March 18, 2024 — MPs spent hours debating a extremely symbolic NDP movement that referred to as for the popularity of a Palestinian state. In a dramatic flip, the governing Liberals tabled amendments that softened the NDP’s authentic name with none time left for debate.
The amended movement urged Canada to “actively pursue” the institution of a Palestinian state as a part of a negotiated two-state resolution, which aligns with Canada’s present coverage.
It additionally included reference to Hamas as a terrorist group and a requirement that Hamas lay down its arms.
Liberal MP Anthony Housefather, a vocal critic of his social gathering’s dealing with of the battle, voted in opposition to the movement, as did former cupboard minister Marco Mendicino and Manitoba MP Ben Carr. Housefather spent a number of days contemplating whether or not to go away the Liberal caucus, in the end deciding to stay.
March 20, 2024 — Immigration Minister Marc Miller stated this system to assist members of the family of Canadians go away Gaza had been a “failure” to that time.
The Immigration Division would finally problem 698 momentary visas to Palestinians with household ties to Canada as of Sept. 30, 2024.
April 1, 2024 — A twin Canadian-American citizen was amongst seven assist employees killed whereas attempting to ship desperately wanted meals within the Gaza Strip. Jacob Flickinger was in a convoy leaving a World Central Kitchen warehouse when he and his colleagues had been hit by the Israeli airstrike. Canada, america, Poland and Australia demanded a full investigation.
April 1, 2024 — Trudeau reminded police forces throughout Canada to discover a steadiness between free speech and sustaining the peace following months of criticism over the response to massive pro-Palestinian protests, significantly in Toronto. Among the many high-profile incidents, a video unfold of Toronto officers not appearing as a person close by uttered demise threats in December. He was charged 5 weeks later.
“We anticipate police to each obey the legal guidelines and implement the legal guidelines. That is one thing I feel that’s needed. Simply waving the Palestinian flag shouldn’t be in itself one thing that’s unacceptable or antisemitic,” Trudeau stated at a press convention.
“It’s once you begin making individuals really feel unsafe of their neighbourhoods, of their faculties, of their communities, that we fall into issues the place police do have to lean in and ensure that everyone seems to be protected and feels protected.”
April 27, 2024 — Montreal supporters of Palestinians introduced an encampment on the McGill College campus, following related strikes at American establishments equivalent to Columbia College. Varied encampments had been made at campuses throughout Canada, attracting each non-student supporters and controversy over the steadiness of free speech and the usage of open areas. Police later cleared among the encampments, with some drawing criticism over use of power, significantly in Edmonton.
July 22, 2024 — A Canadian citizen was killed after threatening Israeli safety forces with a knife close to the Gaza border. The Israeli navy stated the person drove to the doorway of an Israeli city near the border, left his car and approached the safety forces with a knife. The forces shot him.
Aug. 1, 2024 — The Canadian authorities referred to as for an investigation into Israel’s destruction of a giant water facility in an space of the Gaza Strip the place Ottawa is understood for supporting Palestinians. The workplace of Worldwide Improvement Minister Ahmed Hussen stated the Israeli navy’s demolition of the effectively added to a “catastrophic” humanitarian scenario.
Sept. 25, 2024 — Canadian couple Hussein and Daad Tabaja had been killed in what International Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly stated was an Israeli navy strike. Their son Kamal stated the pair was caught in an hours-long site visitors jam as individuals tried to flee Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon.
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Oct. 7, 2024.
— with recordsdata from The Related Press