A group of pro-Palestine protesters made headlines in Canada after entering a restaurant where Prime Minister Trudeau was present and demanding a ceasefire in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. In videos that went viral, approximately 250 protesters surrounded the restaurant in Vancouver’s Chinatown, prompting the Vancouver Police to respond with almost 100 officers and escort Trudeau out of the venue. The protesters can be heard chanting “ceasefire now” and directing phrases like “shame on you” and “you fund genocides” towards Trudeau as they chased him into the street. Two individuals were later arrested for assaulting a police officer and obstructing the police.
The protesters received praise on social media for drawing attention to the need for a ceasefire and pressuring Trudeau to take action. Many expressed respect for those fighting for humanity and criticized Trudeau for not doing enough to stop the killing of innocent civilians in Gaza. The incident occurred amid mounting pressure on the Liberal government to call for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East, where more than 10,000 people have already died due to intense bombing in Gaza.
Earlier on Tuesday, Trudeau called on Israel to exercise “maximum restraint” in Gaza, a statement that was met with strong criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu blamed Hamas for the loss of civilian lives and defended Israel’s actions, stating that it is Hamas, not Israel, that deliberately targets civilians. He highlighted Israel’s efforts to provide humanitarian corridors and safe zones for Palestinian civilians, but argued that Hamas’s interference puts them in harm’s way.
Trudeau’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war has led to widespread dissatisfaction among Canadians. While some see his call for “maximum restraint” as an improvement, many remain unsatisfied with his leadership. A recent poll revealed that half of those surveyed want Trudeau to resign before the next election, citing issues such as unaffordability, housing, public debt, and healthcare. Trudeau’s approval rating has taken a hit compared to Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, who is gaining ground by addressing issues like the carbon tax, Canada’s stance on the Israel-Hamas war, and unaffordable housing.
Experts suggest that foreign policy has historically not been a significant factor for Canadian voters during elections. However, dissatisfaction with Trudeau’s handling of other domestic issues could impact his chances of re-election. While some believe the current war in the Middle East will not lead to Trudeau’s resignation, the pressure on him is growing due to his declining popularity in the polls.
