Canada 'evaluating' relationship with Israel after Qatar attack

Canada's foreign affairs minister said Wednesday that Ottawa is "evaluating" its relationship with Israel in the wake of that country's attack in Qatar — but wouldn't expand on what that evaluation entails.

"We are evaluating the relationship with Israel. Of course, the attack yesterday on Qatar was one that was unacceptable. It was a violation of Qatari airspace. There were deaths on the ground at a time when Qatar was trying to facilitate peace," Anita Anand told reporters at the Liberal caucus retreat in Edmonton.

"There are many moving pieces in the Middle East right now. And at the rock bottom, Canada's position is that we need to work for peace in the Middle East and we need to address the humanitarian situation in Gaza."

Anand made the comments when asked about European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announcing plans to seek sanctions and a partial trade suspension against Israel over the war in Gaza.

A spokesperson from Anand's office told CBC News that the minister's comments were meant "in the sense that the government is constantly monitoring the situation and will continue to evaluate ways to push for a ceasefire, unrestricted humanitarian aid and the release of all hostages."

Israel attacked Hamas headquarters in Qatar on Tuesday, killing five of its members as the group's top figures gathered to consider a U.S. proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza. Israel Defence Forces said in a social media post on Tuesday that it was targetting Hamas's senior leadership.

The attack sparked sweeping condemnation from Western leaders, as Qatar has served as a key mediator between Israel and Hamas throughout the nearly two-year-long war.

Prime Minister Mark Carney called the attack "an intolerable expansion of violence and an affront to Qatar's sovereignty" in a statement on Tuesday.