‘Enduring ceasefire’ in Israel-Hamas war needed: premier

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This article was published 22/11/2023 (696 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew called for an “enduring ceasefire” in the Israel-Hamas war.

“We cannot see a return to future Hamas attacks like the one on Oct. 7, which saw the murder of the greatest number of Jewish people in one day since the Holocaust,” Kinew said during an address to the legislature Wednesday.

“We cannot see the continuation of a conflict that has seen the killing of over 10,000 Palestinians, according to media, including civilians, among whom many are women and children.”

On Wednesday, Israel approved a temporary ceasefire with the Hamas militant group.

The arrangement called for a four-day ceasefire during which Israel will halt its military offensive in Gaza while Hamas frees “at least” 50 of the roughly 240 hostages, according to Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.

Netanyahu said the war against Hamas would resume after the truce expires.

Kinew said the NDP government’s call for an “enduring ceasefire in Gaza” is an attempt to articulate a “reasonable, compassionate path forward that makes sense for Manitobans.”

“This ceasefire should be immediately preceded by the complete release of all hostages taken from their families on Oct. 7 and the end of Hamas forever,” Kinew said.

The premier said Israel is an important ally in the Middle East, its right to exist is not negotiable, and it has the right to defend itself.

“A Palestinian state also has a right to exist and Palestinians, as with all people, deserve to have their human rights respected,” Kinew said.

Kinew said each civilian life lost in the conflict —whether an Israeli hostage or Palestinian child — risks entrenching hard-line views, pushes reconciliation further into the future, and makes it more difficult for Manitobans to live together.

Kinew said he made the statement with the hope it will help ease tensions locally.

“We as Manitobans can do some things to support peace in the Middle East. We do have a responsibility to speak out in favour of doing the right thing, which in this case is to call for a lasting ceasefire and the end of Hamas,” the premier said.

In response to the premier’s statement, Progressive Conservative Leader Heather Stefanson called for peace and unity within the community to ensure Manitoba remains a safe and welcoming place. All Manitobans want to see a resolution to the conflict, she said.

“We simply cannot imagine what people impacted by this conflict are going through,” Stefanson said.

Hate and discrimination, including Islamophobia and antisemitism, will not be tolerated, she said.

“These trends are very concerning and it is an issue we will continue to bring to the attention of the provincial and federal governments,” the former premier said.

“In this house, we must always stand for peace.”

The assembly also held a moment of silence for Vivian Silver, a Winnipeg-born Israeli peace activist who was killed in the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on Kibbutz Be’eri.

—with files from The Associated Press

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca