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Or sign-in if you have an account.Members of a Gaza-bound flotilla, that were detained by Israeli security forces last week, arrive at Sydney International Airport on May 25, 2026. (Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP via Getty Images)It is disheartening to see Mark Carney continuing the tiresome Liberal tendency to self-righteously scold Israel rather than engaging in actual dialogue. Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorCarney was at his most moralistic on Monday when speaking to Israeli President Isaac Herzog, as can be deduced from a summary of the conversation released by the prime minister’s office (PMO). The prime minister “underscored” Canada’s support for a negotiated two-state solution; he “underlined” the imperative of de‑escalation in the region; Carney “raised” the crisis in Gaza and he “expressed concern” about the displacement of civilians in Lebanon. This was a lecture not a conversation. This newsletter from NP Comment tackles the topics you care about. (Subscriber-exclusive edition on Fridays)By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againAnd on some things, recollections obviously differed. According to the PMO, “The leaders discussed the devastating resurgence of antisemitism around the world.” According to Herzog on X, “I expressed my deep alarm over the rise in antisemitic violence in Canada. I called on Prime Minister Carney and his government to address the fear and sense of abandonment felt by our sisters and brothers in the Canadian Jewish community before it’s too late.” That’s quite the different interpretation. Then there was Carney on the recent Gaza flotilla. “The Prime Minister reiterated that the appalling treatment of civilians, including Canadian citizens, aboard the Gaza-bound flotilla was unacceptable, and he called for an independent investigation,” said the summary. Carney is right to be concerned for the safety of Canadians aboard, but his unease might be tempered, his responsibility less irksome and his criticism less valid if it turns out that this flotilla is a Hamas propaganda stunt and the so-called activists are not mere dupes of the Palestinian terrorists but avid supporters. The United States, for one, is absolutely certain who is behind the flotilla: Hamas. The key backer of the flotilla, and previous ones, is the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad (PCPA), an organization that “is clandestinely controlled” by Palestinian terrorists, said a statement last week from the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). “Hamas relies on a diverse web of international partners to expand its malign political influence, facilitate violent terrorist activity, and undermine international efforts to achieve lasting peace in Gaza,” said the statement. “In reality, the PCPA was established with funding from Hamas’s International Relations Bureau and Hamas directs its activity through the placement of Hamas officials throughout the organization.” A previous statement in January from the OFAC detailed how assassinated Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh identified the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad as a means to “boost Hamas’s international outreach.” “The PCPA does not only work with, and in support of, Hamas — it operates at Hamas’s behest,” said that statement. In January, the U.S. designated the PCPA as a terrorist group. Is there any evidence that these flotilla “activists” are less concerned with delivering aid than in confronting Israel and making it an international pariah? Yes. One of the activists, Rosa Martinez, has been happy to document his involvement, both before the flotilla set off — “I am both honored and humbled to be a part of this year’s mission to Gaza,” he said in a statement — and after when he boasted about the real reason for the mission. It was never about aid, he said. “The aid that we have isn’t sufficient to the structural issues in a post ‘ceasefire’ Gaza,” he said in an Instagram video. “For me, as someone who, I think at this juncture in history, is very wedded to direct action, I feel like directly confronting the Israeli occupation forces at sea as we try to break this 20-year genocidal siege, to me is like a historic responsibility.” While the prime minister rightly condemned the behaviour of Israel’s Minister of Public Security Itamar Ben‑Gvir, who was seen in a video taunting some of the flotilla members who had been arrested, Carney failed to acknowledge that Israel has every right to defend itself against these terrorist-supporting activists. It is shameful that Carney is following in the shoes of his predecessor. Like Justin Trudeau, Carney’s position is to immediately point the finger and blame Israel, exactly the response Hamas wants from world leaders. It should not be forgotten that in 2023, Trudeau and Mélanie Joly, then minister for foreign affairs, were made to look like fools after essentially blaming Israel for a rocket attack on the Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City, based only on the word of Hamas, when it was later revealed to be a missile fired from within Gaza that caused the damage. These flotillas will almost certainly continue because they are serving Hamas propaganda — and doing it effectively. A statement from the Israeli Embassy in Canberra noted, “This is the fourth flotilla organised for provocation rather than humanitarian concern. The flotillas have not been driven by legitimate humanitarian objectives, but by an orchestrated political campaign that serves the interests of Hamas.” Rather than lecturing Israel, Carney would do better to educate Canadians about the real backers of these flotillas and their real purpose — to expose the terrorist manipulators at the heart of this “activism.” Hamas is winning the propaganda war and the prime minister is helping them. National Post Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.