Trudeau says allies 'increasingly concerned' about Israel's tactics eroding its international support

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he's worried that Israel's tactics in the war against Hamas could put its long-term security and diplomatic support at risk.

In a year-end interview with CBC News chief political correspondent Rosemary Barton, the prime minister suggested that some of Israel's other allies share that concern.

"The voices from Israel's strongest friends, like Canada, like Australia, especially like the United States ... are becoming increasingly concerned that … the short-term actions being taken by Israel are actually putting at risk the long-term safety and even support for a Jewish state into the future," Trudeau told Barton.

Trudeau's comments echoed remarks U.S. President Joe Biden made during a fundraiser last week.

"Israel's security can rest on the United States, but right now it has more than the United States. It has the European Union, it has Europe, it has most of the world supporting them,'' Biden said. "They're starting to lose that support by indiscriminate bombing that takes place."

The current air and ground war was launched in response to Hamas's brutal Oct. 7 attack on Israeli civilians. According to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, the war has killed nearly 20,000 Palestinians and displaced roughly 1.9 million people, and has demolished much of northern Gaza.

Canada voted earlier this month in favour of a non-binding motion before the United Nations General Assembly calling for an "immediate humanitarian ceasefire." It marked a change in Canada's voting pattern at the UN, where it typically votes in support of Israel.

Trudeau said Canada's support for Israel has not changed, despite the UN vote.

"We've changed how we've articulated our position. But the position itself hasn't changed," he said. "We've always said that Israel has a right to defend itself in accordance with international law. We have always called for the protection of civilians."

Some critics of Canada's vote at the UN — including some Liberal MPs — said the resolution should have called on Hamas to lay down its arms. The resolution also didn't explicitly call for excluding Hamas from participating in future governments in the Gaza Strip.

On the same day as the UN vote, Trudeau and the prime ministers of Australia and New Zealand issued a joint statement that called for a ceasefire. But that statement also condemned the Oct. 7 attack, demanded the release of Israeli hostages and called on Hamas to lay down its arms.

Trudeau told Barton that while Canada still supports a two-state solution, Hamas — which has been officially designated a terrorist organization by a number of countries, including Canada — should have no role in such negotiations.

"It is our position that working towards a sustainable ceasefire requires the conditions of Hamas laying down its arms, releasing all hostages, [ending the use of] human shields and understanding there is no role for Hamas in the future governance of Gaza," the prime minister said.

Earlier this week, Hamas official Ghazi Hamad called the joint statement by Canada, Australia and New Zealand "welcome" news.