Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau encountered a vocal crowd during his recent visit to a mosque in Toronto that booed him due to his response to the Israel-Hamas conflict. A video capturing the moment has been shared widely on social media platforms. As reported by The Toronto Sun, the Prime Minister made an unannounced visit to a mosque in the Etobicoke area of Toronto on Friday, an event that notably missing from his public itinerary.
A video posted by a Global News reporter on X (formerly known as Twitter) reveals a brief episode during the visit. In the video, individuals inside the mosque can be heard expressing disapproval, with some saying "shame" and urging the facilitator not to allow Trudeau to speak at the podium. Nevertheless, the Prime Minister addressed the gathered audience, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to "pray alongside you in this difficult time", The Toronto Sun reported.
The video also depicted protesters outside the mosque as Prime Minister Trudeau was departing. These demonstrators urged Trudeau to advocate for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Subsequently, the Canadian Prime Minister's Office confirmed Trudeau's visit to the International Muslims Organization of Toronto on Friday. Spokesman Mohammad Hussain, in a written statement, explained that Trudeau attended to "show his support to those impacted in the Muslim community from the horrific events in the Middle East", The Toronto Sun's report mentioned.
The reaction comes after Trudeau, during a press conference in Brampton, Ontario, stated, "Everyone is hurt and hurting; everyone is grieving; everyone is scared of what this means," when asked about potential divisions within his caucus regarding the Liberal Party's response to the conflict.
Some Liberal Members of Parliament have joined the calls from Muslim groups for Canada to push for a ceasefire in the region. In contrast, major Canadian Jewish groups have demanded Trudeau retract a prior statement they view as lending credence to Hamas' claim that Israel was responsible for an attack on a hospital in Gaza City, the report stated.
The Toronto Sun also reported that Toronto-area Liberal MP Salma Zahid, chair of the Canada-Palestine Parliamentary Friendship Group, had penned a letter to the Canadian PM outlining specific demands on behalf of 33 MPs. The letter calls for Canada to endorse an immediate ceasefire, facilitate the opening of a humanitarian corridor, and uphold international law. It garnered the support of 23 backbench Liberal MPs, eight NDP MPs, and both Green Party MPs.
The letter emphasises the importance of international law, which mandates the protection of innocent civilians and non-combatants in conflict zones.
The latest conflict began in reaction to a deadly attack by Hamas on October 7, which prompted Israel to declare war. As the situation unfolds, tensions have escalated in the Middle East, marked by Israeli airstrikes and a blockade on the Palestinian territory, affecting access to essential resources. The United Nations has characterised these actions as violations of international humanitarian law.