Michael Byers holds the Canada Research Chair in global politics and international law at the University of British Columbia.
During the recent federal election campaign, Prime Minister Mark Carney embraced a hockey term: elbows up. It describes a defensive stance that also signals a readiness to fight back – and during the campaign, it was about opposing U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs and his aspirations to make Canada the “51st state.”
Now that his Liberals have been returned to government, Mr. Carney has decided to play offence in global politics, by picking a fight with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
On Monday, Mr. Carney joined French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in condemning the intensified bombing of Gaza and the continued blocking of all humanitarian aid, while reasserting support for a ceasefire and a two-state solution. “We will not stand by while the Netanyahu government pursues these egregious actions,” their statement read. “If Israel does not cease the renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid, we will take further concrete actions in response.”
The three leaders also condemned “abhorrent language used recently by members of the Israeli government, threatening that, in their despair at the destruction of Gaza, civilians will start to relocate.”
These strong words represent a departure from the policies of Justin Trudeau’s government, which muted its criticism of Israel.
To be clear: Mr. Carney did not need to join the French and British leaders in their statement. Unlike his meeting with Mr. Trump, he could have watched this play out from the bench.
So why did he pick this fight?
Taking part in the statement signals that Canadian foreign policy is becoming more independent from the United States, and closer to that of our major European allies. It‘s a timely message, as the Carney government seeks to diversify Canada’s trade, investment and military procurement.
Taking part also represents a claim to international influence. The statement will be particularly welcomed in the Global South, including major states such as Brazil and South Africa. Mr. Carney has just boosted the chances of Canada being elected to the UN Security Council, and increased our standing in other multilateral bodies.
And of course, it‘s possible that Mr. Carney’s decision was also based on humanitarian concerns – that he was picking a fight on behalf of children and other helpless civilians.
Predictably, Mr. Netanyahu has responded angrily to the statement. “By asking Israel to end a defensive war for our survival before Hamas terrorists on our border are destroyed and by demanding a Palestinian state,” he said, “the leaders in London, Ottawa and Paris are offering a huge prize for the genocidal attack on Israel on Oct. 7 while inviting more such atrocities.”
Yet the statement does not ignore Israel’s security. It describes the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel as “heinous,” calls on Hamas “to release immediately the remaining hostages,” and reaffirms Israel’s right to self-defence – while describing the current escalation as “wholly disproportionate.”
Nor is the statement rash. It was most certainly prepared in consultation with other allies, including the United States. After meeting with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates last week, Mr. Trump publicly expressed concern about starvation in Gaza. Then, Mr. Carney met with U.S. Vice-President JD Vance in Rome on Sunday.
The increased pressure already appears to be delivering results. On Monday, after nearly three months of siege, five aid trucks were allowed into Gaza. Up to 100 more trucks are reportedly on their way.
But thousands more truckloads will be needed if widespread starvation is to be averted. On Tuesday, as Israeli forces continued to drop bombs, Tom Fletcher, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, told BBC Radio that there are “14,000 babies that will die in the next 48 hours unless we can reach them.” This was soon found to be a misstatement of a report from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), which predicted 14,100 babies and young children will suffer severe cases of acute malnutrition within about a year – between April, 2025, and March, 2026.
Everyone, including Israelis, should care about preventing mass starvation. Thanks to the actions of the Netanyahu government, their country risks becoming a pariah state: shunned by the international community and excluded from international trade. Mr. Starmer’s government has already suspended free-trade talks with Israel.
Mr. Carney’s position represents a welcome shift in Canadian foreign policy. It goes beyond “elbows up” – it‘s gloves-off now, as this country takes a stand on behalf of human rights.
Editor’s note: A previous version of this article included a statement by United Nations relief head Tom Fletcher to the BBC, in which he misspoke. Mr. Fletcher said incorrectly that 14,000 babies could die in the next 48 hours if they’re not reached. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification report he was referring to said 14,100 babies and young children are expected to suffer severe cases of malnutrition could occur within about a year.