25.37°C Vancouver

Feb 15, 2024 4:20 PM - The Canadian Press

Trudeau warns Israel of 'catastrophic' consequences of pending Rafah offensive

Share On
trudeau-warns-israel-of-catastrophic-consequences-of-pending-rafah-offensive
He says in a joint statement with the prime ministers of Australia and New Zealand that the impact of an incursion into Rafah would be "devastating" and there is "simply nowhere else for civilians to go.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says an Israeli military offensive into the densely populated area where some 1.5 million Palestinians have taken refuge in the Gaza Strip would be "catastrophic."

He says in a joint statement with the prime ministers of Australia and New Zealand that the impact of an incursion into Rafah would be "devastating" and there is "simply nowhere else for civilians to go."

The three say Israel should not go down this path and it must listen to its friends and the international community.
They are also calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and note an International Court of Justice ruling last month that said Israel must protect civilians and ensure the delivery of essential humanitarian assistance.

Trudeau and his counterparts say a sustainable ceasefire is necessary and cannot be one-sided, reiterating their condemnation of Hamas for the Oct. 7 attack that triggered the conflict.

The statement follows similar warnings from the United States and United Nation, and marks Canada's strongest language yet on Israel's conduct in the region.

Latest news

BCJul 23, 2026

Wildfires prompt new evacuation orders as more than 80 blazes burn across British Columbia

Emergency evacuation orders have been issued for several areas of British Columbia as out-of-control wildfires continue to threaten communities across the province. More than 80 wildfires are currently active, and officials are urging residents to follow evacuation instructions and monitor emergency updates. According to the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District, overnight evacuation orders were issued for parts of the South Chilcotin Mountains area as wildfire conditions worsened. In Boston Bar, local authorities have also urged the remaining residents in the Fraser Canyon to leave immediately
CanadaJul 23, 2026

32-year-old arrested after alleged knifepoint carjacking in Abbotsford

Abbotsford police have arrested a 32-year-old man in connection with an alleged knifepoint carjacking in the 2800 block of Livingstone Avenue. According to the Abbotsford Police Department, the incident occurred at about 10 p.m. Tuesday when a woman was allegedly threatened with a knife and her vehicle was stolen. Police said the victim was shaken by the incident but was not physically injured. Officers responded immediately after receiving the report and located the stolen vehicle near Clearbrook Road and Highway 1. The suspect, identified by police as Justin Brown-Henderson, was taken into c
vancouver-police-equip-all-patrol-officers-with-new-alcohol-and-drug-screening-devices
BCJul 23, 2026

Vancouver Police equip all patrol officers with new alcohol and drug screening devices

Vancouver Police say the department has received 230 new Approved Screening Devices (ASDs) for its traffic section as part of efforts to strengthen enforcement against impaired driving involving alcohol and drugs. According to the Vancouver Police Department, the delivery makes it the first police agency in British Columbia to receive the devices on this scale. The department said every patrol officer on duty will now have access to an ASD during traffic enforcement. Police also introduced a new tracking software system that will record where the screening devices are being used. The departmen
BCJul 23, 2026

B.C. exports expected to face biggest impact from new 50% U.S. tariffs

British Columbia's economy is expected to be hit harder than any other Canadian province after U.S. President Donald Trump announced new 50 per cent tariffs on hundreds of imported products. According to the report, about 13 to 14 per cent of the goods B.C. is expected to export to the United States in 2025 will be subject to the new tariffs, the highest share among all provinces. The measures are expected to have the greatest impact on B.C.'s electrical machinery and equipment sector, as well as wood and wood product exports. The tariffs will apply to more than 500 product categories, includi
AlbertaJul 23, 2026

33-year-old man charged after alleged armed carjacking during Red Deer test drive

A 33-year-old man is facing multiple criminal charges after an alleged armed carjacking during a vehicle test drive at a Red Deer dealership, according to the RCMP. Police said the incident occurred at about 11:26 a.m. Tuesday. RCMP allege the suspect produced a firearm as the test drive concluded and forced a dealership employee out of the vehicle before driving away. According to RCMP, multiple police units responded immediately and arrested the suspect a short time later. Investigators said the stolen vehicle was being driven at speeds of up to 165 km/h before it was safely recovered. The a

Related News