Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is calling for an independent
investigation into what he calls the excessive use of force by
the Israel Defence Forces against protesters along the Gaza border on
Monday.
Two days after a violent encounter with Israeli soldiers that killed
more than 50 Palestinians and wounded hundreds more, Trudeau issued a
statement to the parliamentary press gallery Wednesday demanding
Israel’s leaders explain how a Canadian doctor tending to injured
protesters was caught in the crossfire.
“Canada deplores and is gravely concerned by the violence in the Gaza
Strip that has led to a tragic loss of life and injured countless
people. We are appalled that Dr. Tarek Loubani, a Canadian citizen, is
among the wounded — along with so many unarmed people, including
civilians, members of the media, first responders, and children,” he
said.
“We are doing everything we can to assist Dr. Loubani and his family,
and to determine how a Canadian citizen came to be injured. We are
engaging with Israeli officials to get to the bottom of these events.”
In
this Monday, Sept. 7, 2015 photo, Dr. Tarek Loubani, a
Palestinian-Canadian doctor, poses for a picture with 3D printed
stethoscope around his neck, in Gaza City. In a territory lacking many
basic medical supplies, Dr. Tarek Loubani says he has designed a
stethoscope that can be made by a 3-D printer for just $2.50 _ a
fraction of the cost of leading brands. Some doctors say the equipment
is just as good. (Khalil Hamra/Associated Press)
Trudeau’s statement goes a step further — in both tone and content —
than his previous statement on the violent flare-up at the border, which
occurred shortly after the opening of the relocated U.S. embassy in
Jerusalem.
The city is contested, with both Israelis and Palestinians claiming
it as their capital. For that reason, most foreign embassies in Israel
are based in the city of Tel Aviv.
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