Trudeau Says Iran Was Involved in Oct. 7 Hamas Terrorist Attack

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivers remarks at a Liberal Party of Canada fundraiser in Gatineau, Que., on Oct. 24, 2023. Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Iran was involved in the Hamas terrorist attack against Israel in October, a claim that exceeds any made by the U.S. thus far.

Mr. Trudeau made the comment when asked by reporters on Nov. 14 whether his government would list Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps as a terrorist entity, in light of a recent media report suggesting individuals affiliated with the Iranian regime are living in Canada scot-free.

“We continue every day to look at more ways to continue to hold this terrible regime [to account] that has as its first victims its own citizens, but also is involved in terrorist attacks, including the Oct. 7 terrorist attack against Israel,” said the prime minister.

When pressed for a yes or no answer, Mr. Trudeau said Canada would “continue to do everything necessary both to hold that regime to account to limit its impact around the world and to protect Canadians.”

The Palestinian group Hamas, a listed terrorist entity in Canada, launched a multi-pronged and unprecedented attack against Israel on Oct. 7 that resulted in the death of approximately 1,200 Israelis and the kidnapping of more than 200 others.

Iran has been a longstanding supporter of Hamas and shares the objective to destroy Israel, which has raised questions about its involvement in the attack.

Mr. Trudeau did not shed any light on Iran’s role in the attack and his office has not returned a request for clarification. Outside Israel, other governments have not said that Iran was involved in the attack on Israel.

U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken told NBC News on Oct. 12 that there was no “direct evidence” that Iran was involved, “either in planning it or carrying it out.”

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan also addressed the issue on Oct. 10 and said Iran had been involved in a “broad sense” because it provides the “lion’s share” of support to Hamas.

“Now, as to the question of whether Iran knew about this attack in advance or helped plan or direct this attack, we do not — as of the moment I’m standing here at the podium — have confirmation of that,” he said.

Maj. Gen. Michael Edelstein of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) told reporters on Oct. 23 that there is evidence of Iranian involvement in the attack, but he didn’t provide any details.

Iran has praised the attack but has denied being involved.

The Epoch Times reached out to the Department of National Defence (DND) and Global Affairs Canada (GAC) for comment but didn’t hear back immediately.

DND has previously shared publicly its information about a controversial event of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Members of the Liberal government had reacted strongly to an explosion at the Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza on Oct. 17, but DND said four days later that an errant Palestinian rocket was responsible for the incident.

Liberal ministers have not retracted their statements. “What was said previously will remain in the public domain,” Defence Minister Bill Blair said on Oct. 23 when asked about whether a retraction would be made.

Mr. Trudeau from the onset has said that Israel has the right to defend itself according to international law, but pressure has been building for him to call for a ceasefire as the IDF pushes further into Gaza.

“The human tragedy that is unfolding in Gaza is heart wrenching, especially the suffering we see in and around the Al-Shifa Hospital,” he said on Nov. 14.

“The world is witnessing this killing of women and children, of babies. This has to stop.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized Mr. Trudeau’s comments on social media.

“It is not Israel that is deliberately targeting civilians but Hamas that beheaded, burned and massacred civilians in the worst horrors perpetrated on Jews since the Holocaust,” he said.

Israel says that Hamas has been using hospitals like Al-Shifa to hide command posts and hostages. The claim has been backed by the White House, but denied by Hamas.

“We have information that confirms that Hamas is using that particular hospital for a command and control node” and probably to store weapons, spokesman John Kirby said. “That is a war crime.”

Reuters contributed to this report.