Canada reviewing relationship with Israel after Doha strike

Pressed on whether sanctions were under consideration, the foreign minister replied, “We will continue to evaluate our next steps.”

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Canada is reassessing its ties with Israel following the attack on Hamas leaders in Qatar, Foreign Minister Anita Anand said Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters during a Liberal Party meeting in Edmonton, Anand described the strike as “unacceptable,” noting that Qatar has been involved in efforts to mediate the conflict.

“We are evaluating our relationship with Israel,” she said. Pressed on whether sanctions were under consideration, she replied, “We will continue to evaluate our next steps.”

Her remarks followed moves in Europe, where the European Commission said it would propose suspending trade-related provisions in its agreement with Israel.

Questions have since arisen over whether Canada could take similar measures.

Prime Minister Mark Carney has also criticized Israel’s recent actions.

On Tuesday, he called the Doha strike “an intolerable expansion of violence” that risked further escalation across the region.

He has previously said that Israel’s plan to take control of Gaza City was “wrong.”

The Israeli strike targeted Hamas’s political leadership in Doha, killing several members of the group but leaving senior figures alive.

Hamas confirmed that the son of senior negotiator Khalil al-Hayya was among the dead. Qatar, which reported one of its own security forces was killed, denounced Israel and announced the withdrawal of its mediators from hostage talks.

The incident triggered swift diplomatic activity, with regional leaders visiting Qatar in a show of solidarity.