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Canada is evaluating ties with Israel after Qatar attack, foreign minister says

David Ljunggren
Wed, September 10, 2025 

UN conference to work towards a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians, in New York


OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada is evaluating its relationship with Israel after the attack on Hamas leaders in Qatar, foreign minister Anita Anand said on Wednesday, in the latest sign of unhappiness with the Israeli government.

Anand reiterated that Canada considered the attack to be unacceptable, especially given Qatari attempts to facilitate peace in the Middle East.

Anand made her comments when asked whether Canada might follow the lead of the European Commission, which said it would propose the suspension of trade-related measures in a European Union agreement with Israel.

"We are evaluating our relationship with Israel," Anand told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting of the ruling Liberal Party in Edmonton.

Asked specifically whether Canada was considering any kinds of sanctions against Israel, she replied: "We will continue to evaluate our next steps."

Canada has noticeably hardened its line on Israel under Prime Minister Mark Carney, who replaced Justin Trudeau in March. Carney announced in July that Canada would recognize Palestinian statehood, angering Israel.

Trudeau was generally supportive of Israel's campaign against Hamas, while occasionally criticizing actions of the Israeli military.


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Carney on Tuesday condemned the Israeli airstrike, calling it "an intolerable expansion of violence" that risked escalating conflict throughout the region.

He said last month that Israel's plan to take control of Gaza City was "wrong". (This story has been corrected to clarify that Mark Carney took over as prime minister in March, not January, in paragraph 6)

(Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Daniel Wallis and Nia Williams)



Canada 'evaluating' relationship with Israel after Qatar attack: Foreign affairs minister

CBC
Wed, September 10, 2025



Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand and Minister of National Defence David McGuinty respond to questions at the Liberal caucus meeting in Edmonton on Wednesday. Anand reiterated that Canada saw Israel's attack on Qatari soil unacceptable. (Amber Bracken/The Canadian Press - image credit)More


Canada's foreign affairs minister said Wednesday that Ottawa is "evaluating" its relationship with Israel in the wake of that country's attack in Qatar — but wouldn't expand on what that evaluation entails.

"We are evaluating the relationship with Israel. Of course, the attack yesterday on Qatar was one that was unacceptable. It was a violation of Qatari airspace. There were deaths on the ground at a time when Qatar was trying to facilitate peace," Anita Anand told reporters at the Liberal caucus retreat in Edmonton.

"There are many moving pieces in the Middle East right now. And at the rock bottom, Canada's position is that we need to work for peace in the Middle East and we need to address the humanitarian situation in Gaza."

Anand made the comments when asked about European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announcing plans to seek sanctions and a partial trade suspension against Israel over the war in Gaza.

The minister was asked to clarify her comments, specifically if Canada would seek similar measures. Anand said the government "will continue to evaluate our next steps."

A spokesperson from Anand's office told CBC News that the minister's comments were meant "in the sense that the government is constantly monitoring the situation and will continue to evaluate ways to push for a ceasefire, unrestricted humanitarian aid and the release of all hostages."

Israel attacked Hamas headquarters in Qatar on Tuesday, killing five of its members as the group's top figures gathered to consider a U.S. proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza. Israel Defence Forces said in a social media post on Tuesday that it was targetting Hamas's senior leadership.

The attack sparked sweeping condemnation from Western leaders, as Qatar has served as a key mediator between Israel and Hamas throughout the nearly two-year-long war.

Prime Minister Mark Carney called the attack "an intolerable expansion of violence and an affront to Qatar's sovereignty" in a statement on Tuesday.

Even U.S. President Donald Trump, seen as one of Israel's staunchest allies, distanced himself from the Israeli strike in Qatar.

"This was a decision made by [Israeli] Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu, it was not a decision made by me. Unilaterally bombing inside Qatar, a Sovereign Nation and close Ally of the United States, that is working very hard and bravely taking risks with us to broker Peace, does not advance Israel or America's goals," Trump wrote in a social media post on Tuesday.

Netanyahu said Tuesday that the Doha strike was in retaliation for the deadly shooting attack at a Jerusalem bus stop Monday and an attack on Israeli forces in Gaza that killed four soldiers.

On Wednesday, Netanyahu again defended the strike and threatened further action against Qatar.

"I say to Qatar and all nations who harbour terrorists: you either expel them or you bring them to justice," Netanyahu said. "Because if you don't, we will."

Trump had sought to ease tensions between the U.S. allies — including by assuring the Gulf nation that there would be no more such strikes on its soil.

The war in Gaza has already left Israel increasingly isolated internationally, with many of its Western allies calling for it to end the war and do more to address the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, parts of which are experiencing famine.

The strike in Qatar further widens Israel's campaign against Hamas, which launched an attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, that killed 1,200 people and saw more than 250 taken hostage, prompting a military campaign by Israel on Gaza that has killed more than 60,000 people.

The 27-nation European Union is deeply divided in its approach to Israel and the Palestinians, and it's unclear whether a majority will be found to endorse von der Leyen's call for sanctions and trade measures.

Several countries, including Canada, are planning on officially recognizing a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly this month.