Canada signals review of ties with Israel following strike on Hamas headquarters in Qatar

Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand announced on Wednesday that Ottawa is evaluating its ties with Israel following the IDF's strike on Hamas’ headquarters in Qatar this week.

"We are evaluating the relationship with Israel. We will continue to evaluate our next steps,” Anand told media representatives at the Liberal Caucus retreat in Edmonton. While not specifying “next steps,” she addressed the Israeli strike on Hamas leaders in Qatar earlier this week. 

“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," the Canadian diplomat argued. Looking ahead, Anand said her government is working towards promoting peace in the Middle East and stability in Gaza. 

"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." 

Nimrod Barkan, former Israeli ambassador to Canada, assessed that Ottawa’s diplomatic move against Israel would likely be limited in scope. “A permanent downgrade is not simple,” Barkan said, adding that such a move could undermine Canada’s standing in the international arena. 

“Recalling the ambassador for consultations is easier,” Barkan continued, arguing that such a move permits Ottawa to “send a clear message to Israel” while at the same time preserving diplomatic channels with Jerusalem along similar lines, as some European nations that have been critical of Israel’s military operations against Hamas in Gaza. 

The Israeli aerial strike on Hamas leaders in Qatar was widely condemned by both Muslim and Western countries. U.S. President Donald Trump, a strong supporter of Israel, expressed dissatisfaction with Israel's strike on Qatar.

“I’m just not thrilled about the whole situation. We want the hostages back, but we are not thrilled about the way that went down today,” Trump told media representatives. He signaled support for Israel’s goal of eliminating Hamas but called it unfortunate that the strike occurred in Qatar – a key non-NATO U.S. ally that hosts a major American naval base, has become an important trading partner, and has invested billions in the U.S. economy. Qatar has hosted Hamas since 2012, after the group was expelled from Syria.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul warned that the Israeli strike on Hamas leaders in Qatar could undermine the ceasefire talks in Gaza and the release of the hostages. The Western leaders did not mention that Hamas leaders have, in recent months, rejected every internationally brokered ceasefire proposal and have so far refused to release the 48 Israeli hostages still in captivity.

In late July, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that Canada intends to unilaterally recognize the “State of Palestine” at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York later this month. 

France, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Belgium have signaled their intention to recognize Palestine as a state at the UNGA, despite it not meeting criteria such as defined borders or effective government control.

The United States and Israel have criticized these moves, arguing that they reward the Hamas terrorist organization for the Oct. 7 mass terror attack and undermine efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza.