Conservative deputy leader Melissa Lantsman said Canada’s Jewish community is living in fear as a former Hamas leader calls for a global “day of rage.”
Lantsman spoke to True North’s Andrew Lawton Thursday, on the eve of the day on which former Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal asked supporters to “head to the squares and streets.”
Lantsman warns of the growing concern among locals following the threatening video.
“In our own community, there has been a heightened sense of fear,” said Lantsman.
“When a terrorist leader calls on something like this around the world, its intention is to destabilize the normal daily lives of Jews living in communities abroad and instill fear in the community, and that’s exactly what it’s doing.”
Throughout history, there have been repeated attempts to eradicate the Jewish people, she added.
“This genocidal terrorist group is no different. Their goal is one goal, and that’s the eradication of Israel and Jews around the world.”
Serving as the MP for Thornhill, Lantsman said her riding has the largest number of Jews in the country.
Some Canadians have been seeking help from the federal government to no avail. When Canadians in Israel tried to reach the Canadian embassy in Tel Aviv, they discovered it was closed on the weekend.
“When you’re in a situation where you are fearful, you should at the very least expect that the government is going to answer the phone,” says Lantsman.
This led many to end up calling Lantsman’s office in hopes of assistance. Lantsman emphasized that she will continue to push on the Canadian government to keep Canadians safe wherever they are.
In a recently released video, Meshal, the former head of Hamas, requested that Muslims fulfill four criteria on Friday, according to a translation from Rachid Hammami, a Moroccan former Muslim television host and national security expert.
He’s called on Muslims to “show anger” towards Zionists and America, provide financial support to Gaza fighters, apply “political pressure” “to stop Israel’s military invasion of Gaza,” and “carry jihad by their souls; to fight and be martyrs for Al-Aqsa.”
Although YouTube removed the video within 24 hours, it can still be accessed on Rumble, with translated captions.
Meshal, who led Hamas from 2004 to 2017, called on Muslims worldwide, with particular emphasis on those from Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and Egypt, believing they had a greater duty to support Hamas.
“Head to the squares and streets of the Arab and Islamic world, throughout communities everywhere,” said Meshal.
Near the end of his video, Meshal describes how “blood and souls” are required to achieve Hamas’ goals.
“We will create it. We will create the future. But we do not create it with words, wishes, prayers, or money only. What is required? But today, blood and souls are required,” said Meshal.
Despite the fear, Lantsman was confident the Jewish community would prevail, as it always does.
