Carney condemns Hamas on anniversary of Oct. 7 attacks

Israelis are mourning the dead and fearing for the remaining hostages as they mark two years since Hamas' October 7th attack plunged the region into war.

Prime Minister Mark Carney condemned Hamas and antisemitism in a statement marking the second anniversary of the Oct. 7 attacks against Israel.

“Jewish people everywhere, including in Canada, continue to live with a profound sense of grief and anxiety,” Carney said in a written statement. “On this day and every day, we stand with the victims, their families, and their communities, who continue to carry unimaginable grief.”

In a surprise attack on Oct. 7, 2023, thousands of Hamas-led militants poured into southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people and abducting 251 others. Hamas’ attack triggered a brutal response from Israel that has turned large swaths of Gaza into rubble and killed more than 67,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry. Of the 48 hostages that remain in Gaza, only 20 are believed to still be alive.

“We remember all those who were brutally murdered on October 7, 2023, including Canadians Vivian Silver, Netta Epstein, Alexandre Look, Judih Weinstein, Shir Georgy, Ben Mizrachi, and Adi Vital-Kaploun,” Carney wrote. “May their memories be a blessing.”

In his statement, Carney described Hamas as a “terrorist organization” that “launched a heinous attack against Israeli civilians.”

“Canada condemns Hamas, a terrorist group that must play no role in the future governance of a demilitarized Palestinian state,” Carney said. “We urge all parties to immediately work to turn Hamas’ commitment of releasing all hostages into a reality and to negotiate the terms of peace.”

Carney’s statement highlighted Canada’s more than $400-million commitment in assistance to the West Bank and Gaza. He also condemned “a devastating resurgence of antisemitism” throughout the world and pointed to Bill C-9, which would make it a criminal offence to intentionally obstruct access to places of worship, schools and community centres.

“Canada is intensifying its coordination with international partners to build a just and lasting peace – which can only be ultimately guaranteed through the achievement of a comprehensive two-state solution,” Carney added. “As we work towards peace in the region, we will never forget the innocent lives lost, injured, and taken hostage during the attack of October 7.”

With files from The Associated Press