Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday night fired back at accusations by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that Israel is killing civilians in Gaza.
“I urge the government of Israel to exercise maximum restraint. The world is watching, on TV, on social media—we’re hearing the testimonies of doctors, family members, survivors, kids who have lost their parents,” said Trudeau during a press conference in British Columbia on Tuesday.
“The world is witnessing this killing of women, of children, of babies. This has to stop,” he continued.
Tagging Trudeau in a tweet on Tuesday night, Netanyahu wrote:
“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.
“While Israel is doing everything to keep civilians out of harm’s way, Hamas is doing everything to keep them in harm’s way.
“Israel provides civilians in Gaza humanitarian corridors and safe zones, Hamas prevents them from leaving at gunpoint.
“It is Hamas not Israel that should be held accountable for committing a double war crime—targeting civilians while hiding behind civilians.
“The forces of civilization must back Israel in defeating Hamas barbarism.”
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.
While Israel is doing everything to keep civilians out of harm’s way, Hamas is doing…
— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) November 15, 2023
Canada has backed Israel’s right to self defense in the wake of Hamas’s Oct. 7 assault on southern Israel, during which thousands of terrorists invaded western Negev communities, slaughtering 1,200 people, wounding over 5,000 and taking over 200 people back to Gaza as hostages.
The country has also seen a sharp uptick in antisemitic acts since the start of the war, including the firebombing of a Montreal synagogue.
Trudeau’s comments on Tuesday echoed those of French President Emmanuel Macron, who last week claimed that Israel was killing women and children in Gaza, drawing condemnation from Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders.
Macron on Sunday called Israeli President Isaac Herzog to clarify his remarks during the BBC interview.
According to the readout of the call with Herzog, Macron “made clear that he does not and did not intend to accuse Israel of intentionally harming innocent civilians in the campaign against the terrorist organization Hamas.
“President Macron also emphasized that he unequivocally supports Israel’s right and duty to self-defense and expressed his support for Israel’s war against Hamas.”
During the call, Macron explained that his comments were in reference to the humanitarian situation in Gaza. He also reiterated his commitment to demanding the immediate release of the hostages.