After India, Trudeau Receives A Lesson From Israel: Canadian PM Schooled By Netanyahu For Misleading Comments On Gaza

In a strong rebuttal to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's comments on the "killing of women, of children and of babies" in Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted that Hamas, not Israel, should be held responsible for the tragic situation.

Referring to the 7 October attacks that left over 1,400 Israelis dead, Prime Minister Netanyahu posted on X, "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," Netanyahu added.

He said when 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," Netanyahu said.

Earlier addressing a news conference in British Columbia, Trudeau had urged Israel to "exercise maximum restraint" in its war against Palestinian terror outfit Hamas in Gaza.

"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," Trudeau said.

"The world is witnessing this killing of women, of children, of babies. This has to stop," he added.

This comes days after India schooled Canada on misuse of freedom of expression.

In the recent Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the UN Human Rights Council, India called on Canada to fortify its legal framework against the 'misuse' of freedom of expression, aiming to curb incitement of violence and activities of extremist groups.

As reported by The Economic Times, Indian diplomat Mohammed Hussain, addressing the council in Geneva, emphasised the importance of Canada strengthening its domestic measures to prevent the misuse of freedom of expression and clamp down on extremist activities.

Additionally, New Delhi urged Canada to take effective measures to prevent attacks on places of worship for religious and racial minorities.

The call also included a plea to enhance legislative actions against hate crimes and hate speech.

India highlighted the necessity for Canada to champion indigenous rights, urging the elimination of structural discrimination against indigenous children and addressing disparities in access to services for all children.

The UPR Working Group, consisting of 47 member states of the UN Human Rights Council, regularly assesses the human rights records of UN member states.

This statement from India came after the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau again expressed concerns about alleged involvement of Indian government agents in killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil.

Trudeau had earlier alleged India's involvement in the killing of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) chief Nijjar near a Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia in June this year.

However, India had dismissed Trudeau's claims, calling them "absurd" and "motivated".