During a recent rally, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney (pictured above) was interrupted by a pro-Palestinian protestor who shouted: "There's a genocide happening in Gaza." Carney responded: "I'm aware – that's why we have an arms embargo."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the claim "irresponsible" and wrote on X that "Canada has always sided with civilization. So should Mr. Carney."
Netanyahu continued: "But instead of supporting Israel, a democracy that is fighting a just war with just means against the barbarians of Hamas, he attacks the one and only Jewish state."
Dr. Charles McVety, president of Canada Christian College, points out Islam is the fastest growing religion in Canada.
"This is devastating to Christians and Jews in Canada," he tells AFN, "but it's red meat to Muslims – and he wants a Muslim vote that has a heavy impact on about 25% of the ridings [districts] in Canada."
Brian Rushfeldt, a longtime family advocate in Canada, argues that Carney's comment is about money. "He's got investments in the oil industry in Arab countries, so he will not do anything or say anything that will offend them. From everything that I've seen as well, he has no love for Israel," Rushfeldt notes.
Carney later backtracked on his statements when questioned about them, insisting that because of noisy environment he didn't hear the heckler use the word "genocide."
"I heard 'Gaza' and … my point was that I'm aware of the situation in Gaza," he explained.
Rushfeldt isn't buying that explanation. "After he made the comment about Gaza, then he tried to correct and say … he made a mistake. There was no mistake."
Carney became Canada's 24th prime minister on March 14, 2025.
