Avi Benlolo: Hamas thanks Liberals again. It should be a national wake up call

National Post

23-05-2025

Canadians don't believe in terrorism. They believe in peace and democracy. That's why this week's news should alarm every Canadian: Hamas, a designated terrorist organization responsible for the brutal murders and rapes of over 1,200 innocent people on October 7 — including the deaths of eight Canadians — publicly praised a joint statement issued by the UK, France, and Canada. That statement demanded that Israel cease its military operations—or face 'concrete actions.'
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Let's be honest: if Hamas is thanking you, you're on the wrong side of history.
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And this isn't the first time. This marks the second instance where Hamas has openly praised Canada's stance. When a terrorist organization applauds your foreign policy — not once, but twice — that should trigger a serious moral reckoning.
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Even more troubling, after it was revealed that several UNRWA staff were complicit in the October 7 massacre, Canada didn't cut back funding to the agency. The government increased it. What does that say about our moral compass? Are we so determined to appear 'neutral' that we're willing to reward those tied to terror?
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This is not a matter of foreign policy nuance. This is a question of moral clarity. Hamas — an organization committed to Israel's destruction — welcomed the joint Western statement describing it as a 'an important step' in the right direction. Why? Because it lets them off the hook. Why release the hostages or stop fighting if even the West is behind us?
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The Canadian and friends statement contained no demand for Hamas to disarm and to stop firing rockets. There was no appeal to Qatar or other regional powers to pressure Hamas to lay down its arms — instead, the statement expressed support for their efforts.
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The blame — once again — was placed squarely on Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East. That double standard is antisemitism, plain and simple.
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Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney amplified this misguided posture with sharp rhetoric, and Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand added fuel to the fire by falsely accusing Israel of weaponizing food, citing unverified and inflated casualty statistics — without once acknowledging Hamas's role in provoking and perpetuating this war.
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Let's remember: this war began with the slaughter of innocent civilians by Hamas. Israel has a right — and an obligation — to defend itself.