IDF claps back against Anita Anand's criticism of the Gaza war
TEL AVIV — The international spokesman for the Israeli Defence Forces has clapped back against Foreign Minister Anita Anand’s criticism of the Gaza war , even as the Liberal government broadened its messaging to call for Hamas to disarm and cede power.
In a scrum with reporters after being sworn in last week, Anand described Israel’s post-October 7 war on Hamas as “aggression,” accusing the Jewish state of using food as a political toll. She cited a death toll of 50,000 in the war, a figure released by the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry.
Asked about the comments in a briefing with Canadian reporters in Tel Aviv, Lt. Col Nadav Shoshani said Hamas figures do not distinguish between civilians and non-combatants. Israel works hard to limit civilian deaths, he said, often issuing warnings beforehand so they can get out of harm’s way.
When we say we take steps to minimize harm to civilians—this is what we mean.
— LTC Nadav Shoshani (@LTC_Shoshani) May 16, 2025
Several days before striking infrastructure sites belonging to the Houthi terrorist regime in Yemen’s Hudaydah and Salif Ports, the IDF issued repeated warnings to evacuate like this one, posted by… https://t.co/sk846M9ccS
“Israel is only country in the world that could be attacked on seven fronts and described as being the aggressor,” he told the reporters on Sunday, travelling in Israel on a trip sponsored by the Exigent Foundation. The seven fronts he named were Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, the Houthis and other enemies.
On the X social media platform on Monday, Anand revealed that Prime Minister Mark Carney had spoken to Israeli President Isaac Herzog and “discussed the urgent need” for Hamas to release the remaining 58 hostages, “lay down its weapons and have no role in Gaza.”
Today PM @MarkJCarney and Pres. @Isaac_Herzog discussed the urgent need for:
— Anita Anand (@AnitaAnandMP) May 19, 2025
•Hamas to release all hostages
•An immediate ceasefire
•The resumption of urgent life-saving humanitarian aid for civilians
•A two-state solution
•Hamas to lay down its weapons and have no role in…
The two leaders also discussed a ceasefire, “a two-state solution” and the resumption of humanitarian aid to Gaza, she said. On Sunday, Israel announced a resumption of aid.
Later on Monday, Canada, the U.K. and France sent out a joint statement condemning Israel’s expansion of military operations and actions in Gaza and the West Bank, threatening to take concrete actions, including sanctions.
The statement called Sunday’s announcement that Israel will allow a basic quantity of food into Gaza “wholly inadequate” and said the level of human suffering is “intolerable.”
“We will not stand by while the Netanyahu government pursues these egregious actions,” the statement said. “If Israel does not cease the renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid, we will take further concrete actions in response.”
The statement said the three countries have always supported Israel’s right to defend itself against terrorism but called the escalation disproportionate.
The latest statement from France, Britain and Canada demands that Israel leave the Hamas regime in power even as it threatened more October 7 massacres.
— Eylon Levy (@EylonALevy) May 19, 2025
Don’t let anyone fool you.
They concluded long ago they can live with Hamas remaining in power.
We can’t.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that Israel plans on “taking control of all of Gaza.” He has said Israel will also encourage what he describes as the voluntary emigration to other countries. Palestinians have rejected the suggestion.
The three countries’ statement criticized “any attempt to expand settlements in the West Bank.”
“Israel must halt settlements which are illegal and undermine the viability of a Palestinian state and the security of both Israelis and Palestinians,” it said. “We will not hesitate to take further action, including targeted sanctions.”
Shoshani said he had “a lot of respect for Canada,” but said Hamas started the war and could end it by laying down their weapons and releasing the hostages.
“We’re doing everything we can to fight a terrorist organization and we’re not going to fight it in a non-aggressive way,” he said.
“We’re differentiating and targeting terrorists who have said they want to kill us, kill my family. We have to act against these terrorists to make sure they can’t do that.”
The Hamas-led attack on southern Israel killed about 1,200 people and saw 251 hostages taken to Gaza. Most have since been returned to Israel or died. Of the 58 remaining hostages, 23 are believed to still be alive.
— National Post, with a file from the Canadian Press