MPs in the House of Commons pushed back against Jagmeet Singh after the NDP leader made a comment that the “seeds of genocide” were being sown by Israel’s military following the attack by Hamas terrorists.
“When we stop seeing each other as human, when we stop believing that each life has value, this is when the seeds of genocide take hold,” he continued. “Canadians of Palestinian origin see their families trapped in Gaza, said to be the worst place on Earth. In war, children are always the ones who pay the price.”
Liberal MP Ben Carr responded, “Perhaps I misunderstood him, but it sounded to me that [Mr. Singh] was suggesting that Israel is committing or on the verge of committing genocide.”
“Genocide, of course, is the intent to eradicate a people. Therefore, my question for the leader of the NDP is twofold: One, does he believe that Israel has a right to self-defence; and two, does he believe that the current reaction by the Israeli government in its response to a terrorist organization with antisemitic and genocidal objectives is revenge?” said Mr. Carr.
Concern Over Remarks
Conservative MP Melissa Lantsman asked Mr. Singh to explain his remarks. “The leader of the NDP used words like ’revenge,‘ ’genocide,‘ and ’collective punishment,'” she said.
“I am going to ask him one more time if he believes, and this is a serious matter, that Israel is committing or is about to commit a genocide. Yes or no?” she asked.
“We know there are innocent people in Gaza, and the imposition of these horrific conditions on everyone in that community is deeply concerning,” said Mr. Singh.
Liberal MP Anthony Housefather said he was very concerned by Mr. Singh’s comments.
“The Jewish people were the victims of the greatest genocide in human history, the Holocaust. Israel is the only majority Jewish state in the world. It sounded to me very much like he accused the state of Israel of being on the verge of committing a genocide,” said Mr. Housefather.
“I understand that there are very real emotions and really serious concerns, and I respect and acknowledge that. What we are concerned about are the conditions right now that are being imposed on the people of Gaza, the conditions which involve no more electricity, no more clean water, no more access to food, and no more access to the resources necessary to run a hospital,” replied Mr. Singh.
Mr. Housefather said that a terrorist organization with a charter that calls for “the destruction of the state of Israel and of the Jewish people launched the worst attack against Jews since the Holocaust.”
He said that terrorists “crossed the border into Israel,” and “slaughtered babies,” women in their 90s, men, women, and children hiding in bomb shelters and kibbutzim, “brutally and put it on video.”
Mr. Housefather said among more than 1,400 dead, there were at least seven Canadians “slaughtered.”
“Israel, as a nation, has the right to defend itself within international law,” said the Liberal MP. He said that Israel has an army that can defend itself and the Jewish people, ”and that army has a right to eradicate a terrorist organization that has wreaked misery not only for Israeli families but for Palestinian families as well. Hamas uses its population as human shields.”
Conservative MP Garnett Genuis said some members of the House had “tried to characterize any kind of military response to a terrorist attack as being necessarily vengeful. To me, vengeance implies a vicious desire to inflict harm, rather than a response that is survival or protection oriented.”
Conservative MP Marty Morants said, “Now is the time for moral clarity.”
“Already, there are calls for Israel to de-escalate. I cannot believe I am hearing this, even from the NDP. I ask, would any country de-escalate after having its people slaughtered in cold blood and still held hostage?” asked Mr. Morants.
Quebec Conservative MP Pierre Paul-Hus said, “Why deny reality?”
“The members of Hamas are terrorists. There is ample evidence of that. It is time to tell the whole truth about these violent criminals. This is not merely a conflict between two peoples. These are acts of terrorism and war crimes,” he said.
Bloc Quebecois MP René Villemure expressed similar thoughts.
“This does not happen often, but for once, we are in agreement,” said Mr. Villemure. “The members of Hamas are terrorists. Hamas is seeking the annihilation of Israel. Hamas is evil. We all agree on that.”
