Israeli authorities have expressed satisfaction upon learning that Canada is now in agreement with both the United States and France over the source of a recent explosion at a hospital in Gaza City. The consensus among these allies points to the explosion being the result of an errant rocket launched from within the Gaza Strip, a viewpoint that met approval from Israel’s ambassador in Canada.
Despite these affirmations, experts in intelligence and international affairs believe that such statements will do little to mitigate the already heated aggression in the region or the associated tension among Israel and Palestine’s overseas advocates.
Canada made its stance clear this past Saturday, becoming the third Western ally to support Israel’s claim of innocence regarding the rocket blast at the al-Ahli Arab hospital on October 17.
“Based on independent analysis by the Canadian Forces Intelligence Command, we can assert with high certainty that Israel was not involved in the strike against the hospital on October 17, 2023,” Defense Minister Bill Blair disclosed in a late-night statement on Saturday.
“The likelier narrative is that the strike was a result of an errant rocket originating from Gaza. We will continue to keep you informed as we obtain further information.”
Canada’s position follows similar verdicts announced by the United States and France on the 18th and 20th of October, respectively.
Canadian Ambassador to Israel, Iddo Moed, warmly embraced Canada’s conclusion on Sunday. He opined, “The loss of life at the al-Ahli Arab hospital was undoubtedly a tragedy that should shake every human conscience. It’s a harsh reminder of the double jeopardy Palestinians and Israelis face from the acts of war crimes perpetrated by Hamas and other Gaza-based terrorist groups.”
However, the National Council of Canadian Muslims expressed its concern and sought more clarity from Blair regarding the reasoning behind Canada’s conclusion. They called on Canada to recognize the authority of the International Criminal Court to administer an independent ground evaluation. They also highlighted the need for an immediate ceasefire, given the ongoing destruction in Gaza.
The recent spate of hostilities ran into their third week after hundreds of Hamas militants launched a combined-arms attack against Israel. The radical Islam group, which has controlled Gaza for 16 years and has been declared a terrorist organization by Canada since 2002, has caused widespread death and destruction, including the loss of 1,400 Israeli lives.
Yet, Israel did not take these acts of aggression lightly and responded forcefully, disrupting power and essential supplies to the Gaza Strip and launching a counterattack. Amidst these brewing tensions, around 4,600 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have lost their lives.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been upfront that while Canada unequivocally supports Israel’s right to self-defense, it is of utmost importance to safeguard civilian lives and uphold international law.
Blair was tasked with commissioning a military review and analysis of existing evidence to help Canada form an informed opinion. However, Canada has not yet disclosed the specific evidence that informed its conclusion.
While these findings might not alter the perspectives of those blaming Israel for the attack, it provides a fresh perspective on the incident causing international uproar. Despite concrete evidence, the world’s perception of facts often gets clouded by feelings. However, getting to the truth is of paramount importance in order to ensure justice, regardless of where the blame lies.
“As we continue to update our findings, we are confident that Canada will identify Palestinian Islamic Jihad, as revealed by the Israeli Defense Forces, as the culprits behind this war crime,” Moed concluded.
