Hamilton NDP MPP apologizes after comments about Israel-Hamas conflict

Hamilton Centre NDP MPP Sarah Jamais apologizing after making a statementabout the conflict between Hamas and Israel in whichshe voiced her support for the people of Gaza.

Her apology comes afterOntario Premier Doug Ford calledfor Jama'sresignation andOntario NDPleaderMarit Stilescalled for her to retract the remarks.

"I heard many voices yesterday raising concern about my post," she wrote in a statement shared by the Ontario NDPon Wednesday. "I hear them - and above all, I understand the pain that many Jewish and Israeli Canadians, including my own constituents, must be feeling. I apologize."

She also said she condemns "terrorism by Hamas" and believes "violence against civilians is never justified and there is no military solution to this conflict."

In her initialsocial media post on Tuesday, Jama said "the news coming out of Israel and Palestine is deeply concerning" and called for an immediate ceasefire, as well as an "end to all occupation of Palestinian land."

Her originalstatement focused largely on thePalestinian territories, saying "violence and retaliation rooted in settler colonialism have taken the lives of far too many innocent people."

She did not directly mention theHamasattacksthat havekilled over 1,000 Israeli civilians and seen around 150 people takenhostage.

"My heart genuinely goes out to all those impacted by this on-going violence," she wrote.

At least 900 Palestinianshave alsobeen killed since the weekend, according to theMinistry of Health in Gaza. Thousands of people have been wounded on both sides.

Stiles initially said Jama's statementdidn't align with the party's position. After Jama's apology, Stiles indicated Jama wouldn't be removed from caucus.

"In working with MPP Jama over the last 24 hours, I understand the personal impact that is having on her as someone with Palestinian family members," Stiles said in a statement. "She is not alone in this experience. At the same time I have made it clear that all members of our caucus condemn Hamas' terror attacks ... MPP Jama has reaffirmedher commitment to this."

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Israel has declared war with Hamas after the Palestinian militant group launched a surprise attack that killed hundreds. The National breaks down how Hamas went seemingly undetected by Israeli intelligence for months and days leading up to the attack and what could happen next.

The New Democrats said the attacks by Hamas are unjustifiable and Israel's response attack on Gaza has caught civilians in "a horrific cycle of violence."

"Like the Israeli civilians killed over the last few days, Gazans are victims of Hamas' brutality," itsposition read.

The initialpost by the Hamilton MPP has become a flashpoint in a Canada-wide debate on the conflict.

Ford called for Jama's resignation on Wednesday, sayinghe was doing what "Ms. Stiles won't" and that Jama's"views do not represent Ontario. They have no place in the legislature, and they have no place in this province."

Statement prompts bothanger and support

Organizations like the Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) and the Canada-basedLegal Centre for Palestine (LCPal) have voiced their support for Jama and said the NDP'sinitialresponse to herwasa form of censorship.

"We thank [Jama] for insisting on an immediate ceasefire AND calling for an end to the oppressive structures of occupation and apartheid," said CJPME on X, formerly known as Twitter.

"We reject the repeated political attacks on her, which are designed to silence those who recognize the value of Palestinian lives."

A2022Amnesty International reportformally accusedthe Israeli governmentof building an apartheid statein its occupied territories,but Canada has said it rejectsthe view that "Israel's actions constitute apartheid."

Samira Sayed-Rahman, a former student at McMaster University in Hamilton who now works with theInternational Rescue Committee in Kabul,wrote about Jama on X, saying:"It takes a special kind of conviction to use your position and speak in contradiction with your party and the bigger political apparatus in Canada whilst remaining firm in your principles."

Also on X, the leader of the Green Party of Quebec,Alex Tyrrell,calledJama'sinitial statement "the strongest peace oriented statement I have seen on this round of violence by any other provincial or federal politician."

But the statement has also been strongly condemned.

The Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre decried Jama's statement that "willfully ignored the brutality waged against Israeli civilians by Hamas terrorists."

The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairscalled for her removal from caucus and said hercomments were "heinous."

Some of theNDP's political opponentsalsocalled for Jama to be kicked out, including interim Ontario Liberal Party Leader John Fraser.

"There is only one option: kick her out of the Official Opposition caucus for appeasing terrorism," said PC MPP Lisa MacLeod.

Jama came under fire during the Hamilton Centrebyelection campaignearlier this year.B'nai B'rith Canada, a Jewish advocacy organization, called forthe NDP to drop Jama as a candidate for past criticism of Israel's treatment of Palestinians. Jama said then she was "against antisemitism in all of its forms," butapologized for making"harmful" comments in the past.