Local Politicians Speak Out Against Hamas Attacks

While the Ottawa Police Service has been monitoring activity around the synagogues and mosques in the city, including Ottawa Torah Centre and the South Nepean Muslim Centre in Barrhaven, local political leaders have condemned the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel that took place Sat., Oct. 7.

Conservative Party of Canada leader and Carleton MP Pierre Poilievre, who served as Barrhaven’s MP until the Nepean-Carleton riding split in 2018 and remains Riverside South’s MP, was quick to react to the Hamas attacks on Israel.

“I unequivocally condemn the invasion of Israel by Hamas terrorists and the sadistic violence they have subsequently carried out against innocent civilians,” wrote Poilievre on the X platform after learning of the attacks on the morning of Oct. 7.  “Israel has the right to defend itself against these attacks and respond against the attackers. Canadians pledge their solidarity with all the victims.”

Less than a half hour later, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau echoed Poilievre’s sentiments with a statement on the X platform.

“Canada strongly condemns the current terrorist attacks against Israel. These acts of violence are completely unacceptable. We stand with Israel and fully support its right to defend itself. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this. Civilian life must be protected,” the Prime Minster wrote.

Trudeau and Poilievre attended a community solidarity evening hosted by the Ottawa Jewish Federation Mon., Oct. 9. Also in attendance were Nepean MP Chandra Arya, Nepean MPP Lisa MacLeod, Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, and Barrhaven Councillor David Hill.

“I stand proudly with the Jewish community of Ottawa against the terrorist actions of Hamas,” Hill posted on X. Hill thanked Rabbi Menachem Blum, the Ottawa Torah Centre and the Ottawa Jewish Federation “for leading the conversation on security for faith communities and the importance of fighting anti-Semitism.”

MacLeod posted that “the support for Israel and our Jewish Community was incredible tonight in Ottawa.”

Ghamari Joins Israeli Supporters

Carleton MPP Goldie Ghamari has been the most vocal in condemning the attacks both locally and provincially.

Since being elected in 2018, Ghamari has been outspoken about the dangers and horrors of Hamas and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the terrorist organization that seized control of Iran in 1979. Hamas is largely funded by the IRGC. Media reports following the Oct. 7 attack on Israel indicated that the IRGC met with Hamas and helped plan the attacks.

Ghamari was born in Iran and arrived in Canada with her family after her father survived a roadside execution attempt and fled the country.

Thanks to a massive following on social media, Ghamari became a global voice against the IRGC after the September, 2022 murder of Mahsa Amini, who was killed by the IRGC for improperly wearing her hijab. Ghamari has been careful to speak out against the IRGC on her own time and not let it conflict with her duties in the Carleton riding. On Sat., Sept. 16, Ghamari was in the Richmond Fair Parade with her staff, and then rushed to the airport to go to Toronto to speak at an anti-IRGC protest marking the first anniversary of the killing of Mahsa Amini.

“For over a year I’ve said the Iranian peoples’ fight for freedom, democracy, and desire to get rid of the terrorist and illegitimate Islamic Regime is everyone’s fight,” Ghamari posted on X. “Does everyone believe me now?”

On Thanksgiving night, Ghamari was at Mel Lastman Square in North York, joining Israeli supporters at a large rally. A group of Hamas supporters showed up, and the two sides were separated by police. Toronto Sun reporter Joe Warmington posted on the X platform that the outnumbered Hamas supporters were drowned out by a chant of “Shame on you!”

Ghamari started the chant.

Israel has been a strong supporter of the people of Iran for decades, calling for their freedom from the IRGC. Many Iranian-Canadians have been visible and vocal at rallies this week in support of Israel after the Hamas attacks.

“Unfortunately, Iranian-Canadians have a lot of experience calling out terrorism at rallies,” Ghamari said. “The people of Iran have had to live under this illegitimate terrorist regime for 44 years. When I speak out about what is happening in Iran, I am speaking out because it affects us here in Canada.”

Ghamari also watched the Hamas rally at Nathan Phillips Square earlier in the day. She filmed the march on her phone and realized later that she captured footage of NDP MPP Sarah Jama marching with the Palestinians.

“It was the first time I have ever felt uncomfortable in Canada,” she posted.

She also called out Jama.

“@SarahJama_ this you? At the Monday rally in Toronto celebrating the “resistance”? “Celebrating Hamas terrorists for beheading babies? Celebrating Hamas terrorists slaughtering Israelis?”

Jama wrote a post on the X platform the next day supporting the Palestinian resistance. While Jama was criticized widely for her post, it took NDP leader Marit Stiles several hours to ask for an apology from Jama. The following day, Jama issued a quasi-apology but did not remove the controversial post.

Journalist Warren Kinsella posted, “Marit Stiles will not be the next Leader of the Opposition, and certainly not Premier. She was the one who decided that today. No one else.”

Ghamari, meanwhile, was critical of Jama and her party.

“I too am a visible minority middle eastern woman MPP,” she wrote. “@SarahJama_ knew EXACTLY what she was saying in her vile statement & ‘apology’. She blamed the horrific, terrorist & genocidal actions of Hamas on Israel. She attended a hate rally glorifying genocide. The NDP support this.”

Nepean MPP Lisa MacLeod also publicly criticized Jama and the NDP over the incident.

“What little credibility the official opposition had is now in tatters,” MacLeod stated on X.  “To be in the NDP and hold radical views is one thing, to be His Majesty’s Loyal Opposition in the Legislature and hold terrorist sympathies is entirely another.  Marit Styles, as leader of both, has failed.”

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has called for the resignation of Jama.