Senator Plett: You, in fact, have been very clear, minister. Thank you.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs still hasn’t taken down her statement about the bombing of the hospital in Gaza, which she posted when the media was reporting that Hamas claimed that Israel was responsible. I would hope that Minister Joly is aware of her government’s findings and your statement by now.

Minister, why do you think she has not retracted this statement? She has had 12 days to do so. Failing to delete this post is a deliberate choice on her part, minister — is it not?

Hon. Donald Neil Plett (Leader of the Opposition): Welcome, minister.

Minister, around ten o’clock at night on Saturday, October 21, you released a statement indicating that the Government of Canada does not believe Israel struck a hospital in Gaza earlier that week. After initial media reports blamed Israel for attacking the hospital, Prime Minister Trudeau made sure his rush to judgment was in the full light of day and in front of reporters. The timing of his comments implied that he believed Israel was responsible, which, of course, was the story spread by Hamas.

After your statement, minister — and many of us here agreed with your statement that Saturday night — the Prime Minister went days without saying a word about it. Why is that, minister?

Hon. Bill Blair, P.C., M.P., Minister of National Defence: Thank you very much, Senator Plett, for the question. Thank you also, ladies and gentlemen, for the privilege and the opportunity to come before you today.

In the aftermath of the terrible attack and the murder of innocents that took place on October 7, there was, very importantly, a reaction. I think that we have been very clear on the government’s position with respect to affirming Israel’s right to defend itself. As a result of the bombing of the hospital that took place in Gaza, there were a lot of questions and, I think, a lot of misinformation with respect to what had taken place there.

I met with my officials at the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces, and I asked them for a close examination of the ballistics of the event and the trajectory of the ammunition. They examined both the open-source information and the classified material that was available to us. Then, I had the opportunity to brief the Prime Minister on this matter on that Saturday afternoon, and, after briefing the Prime Minister, I made a public statement.

Senator, I would respectfully disagree with your characterization. I think the Prime Minister reacted in a very understandable way to the explosion that took place at that hospital and the loss of innocent life.