Jeremy Levi, the mayor of the Hampstead neighbourhood of Montreal, declared that he would back Israel’s military operation in Gaza, no matter how many children were killed.
According to health officials in the beleaguered enclave, almost 18,200 people have perished in the nine weeks of bombardment of Gaza, as Israel’s retaliatory assault in response to Hamas’ October 7 cross-border attack continues at a rapid pace. According to Israeli sources, the October assault claimed the lives of 1,147 of its inhabitants, while 240 more were taken prisoner.
Levi, who was elected last year to lead the largely Jewish Hampstead neighbourhood, has stated that Israel’s military campaign must go on until “good” triumphs over “evil,” despite growing worldwide condemnation of Israel’s siege of Gaza.
Levi stated, “I’m not calling for a ceasefire,” in a video that Yves Engler, a prominent critic of Israel, uploaded to social media on Monday. “A ceasefire is not what I’m calling for; I want the hostages to go home.”
Regarding the rising number of fatalities in Gaza, especially those involving children, the mayor continued, saying, “I would never support [the killing of children], it’s terrible.” However, Israel must take all necessary measures to ensure the security of its own citizens.
According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, women and children under the age of eighteen make up almost 70% of those who have died in the enclave since Israel started its offensive. Late last month, representatives of the United Nations humanitarian organisation reported that approximately 160 children, or one every 10 minutes, were dying in Gaza each day.
In November, UNICEF spokesperson James Elder told reporters in Geneva that the situation is getting worse and that a worsening humanitarian crisis will likely occur “if youngsters continue to have restricted access to water and sanitation in Gaza.”
“Hamas has to be totally eradicated,” Levi said in his video clip. Although the number of collateral deaths is horrifying, there is no other option. Although I have the utmost sympathy for all the innocent victims of this tragedy, good must ultimately triumph over evil.
If 100,000 children were killed, would he still support Israel? Levi responded, “You can give me all sorts of numbers, but my answer is going to be the same: Israel needs to eradicate Hamas.”
Levi implemented a bylaw in the Hampstead community last month that punished CAN$1,000 to anyone who removed an Israeli citizen’s poster, with the proceeds going to Israel.
