Mayor says his job is to stand with all Edmontonians hurting amid ongoing Middle East violence
Global News
Sohi said Tuesday he believes his role is to stand with all Edmontonians who are impacted by the crisis rather than to offer political statements on international affairs.
As the escalating violence involving Israel and Hamas continues in the Middle East, Mayor Amarjeet Sohi said Tuesday he believes his role is to stand with all Edmontonians who are impacted by the crisis rather than to offer political statements on international affairs.
“I understand the trauma and the pain that community is going through,” he said of Edmonton’s Jewish community, acknowledging the “damage and the suffering that has been caused by Hamas’ terrorist attack in Israel.”
Sohi said he knows many Jews are grappling with trauma and anxiety as they worry about the safety of their loved ones in Israel.
“I am also hearing the pain and trauma the Palestinian community is going through,” he said.
While he had already issued two statements on the situation in recent days, Sohi spoke to reporters on Tuesday afternoon, three days after Hamas militants crossed into Israel and gunned down civilians, prompting that country to launch airstrikes on Gaza and to try to prevent crucial supplies like food and fuel from entering the Palestinian territory.
“We felt we needed to provide a bit more clarity,” Sohi said when asked why he issued a second statement on the crisis and chose to address the media.
The violence between Israel and Hamas had led to at least 1,900 deaths on both sides of the conflict by Tuesday afternoon, according to The Associated Press. Israeli officials added Tuesday that they believe Hamas and other militant groups now hold about 150 Israeli hostages, including both civilians and soldiers.
The Israeli military said over 1,000 people have been killed in Israel, including 155 soldiers. Palestinian authorities said 900 people have been killed in Gaza and that over half of them were women and children.