Tensions Flare Over Gaza Crisis in French-Language Leaders’ Debate
Jafar Bhamji
4-17-2025
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MONTREAL — The first federal leaders' debate ahead of the 2025 election turned fiery Wednesday night, with the conflict in Gaza sparking one of the evening’s most emotional and contentious exchanges.
New Democratic Party Leader Jagmeet Singh directly confronted Liberal Leader Mark Carney, pressing him to call Israel's actions in Gaza a genocide. “The situation is heartbreaking. It’s heartbreaking to see innocent people being killed,” Singh said. “Mr. Carney, why don’t you call things as they are? This is a genocide. People in Israel do deserve peace and security, but people in Palestine do as well. What is going on right now is a genocide against people in Palestine. Mr. Carney, why won’t you admit it?”
Carney, who faced criticism last week for his hesitation on the issue, refused to use the term. “The situation in Gaza is horrible, but I will never use that word to politicize the situation,” he responded, drawing a sharp contrast with Singh’s urgent tone.
Singh also took aim at Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s stance on humanitarian aid, condemning his plan to defund the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) — the only aid organization currently operating on the ground in Gaza. “You called the whole organization a terrorist organization,” Singh said. “It’s disgusting. It’s unacceptable.”
Poilievre defended the decision, stating his government would still support aid for those in need but insisted it must not “fall into the hands of terrorists.”
Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet also weighed in, saying the conflict was having a serious impact at home as well as abroad. “Jews in Quebec are feeling targeted,” he said, “while Palestinians in Gaza are under constant attack from Israel.” He echoed calls for accountability, stating that “we have to make sure we know where the money is going.”
The heated exchange saw Singh as the only leader to have his microphone cut off by moderator Patrice Roy, who interjected that Singh was speaking out of turn. Despite the interruption, Singh ultimately spoke for nearly three minutes less than the other leaders. Final debate timers showed Singh with just over 22 minutes of speaking time, compared to roughly 25 minutes for Carney, Poilievre, and Blanchet.
The debate revealed deep divides on foreign policy, humanitarian aid, and the language leaders are willing — or unwilling — to use when describing the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
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