Kingston, ON – October 31, 2023
Our community, and our province, are grappling with an extremely difficult, and constantly evolving, situation in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza.
I appreciate members of our community sharing their concerns with me about the tragic loss of life.
Israel has a right to defend itself in accordance with international law following the invasion on October 7th by the terrorist organization Hamas. Hostages are still being held and I pray for their safe return.
Thousands of civilians have been killed or injured in Gaza as a result of this Israel-Hamas war. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is severe and there must be effective humanitarian corridors created and maintained. All parties must allow for pauses needed for humanitarian aid to reach innocent civilians in Gaza. Every possible measure must be taken to avoid the further loss of innocent lives.
Here in Ontario, Jews and Palestinians are fearful for the lives of friends and family members in the region, and rightfully so. Ontario families are scared for their own safety. Now is the time for us to come together and support one another. There may be differing opinions on the conflict, but the duty of our elected representatives, no matter the political stripe, is to bring people together. Our diversity makes us strong as a province and as a country. We cannot inflame tensions here at home.
The situation in the region changes every day. For the most up-to-date information on this conflict, I encourage people to visit Canada’s response to the crisis in Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. https://www.international.gc.ca/world-monde/issues_development-enjeux_developpement/response_conflict-reponse_conflits/crisis-crises/israel.aspx?lang=eng
Ted Hsu
MPP, Kingston and the Islands