The joint statement from G7 leaders gathered in Alberta this week was clear in its support of Israel and its campaign to halt Iran’s march towards a nuclear arsenal, offering what at least one observer said was the moral clarity that the situation deserved.
All eyes were on Kananaskis, as leaders of the United States, Japan, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, France, the EU and many other invitees were welcomed by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, where the Israel-Iran war pushed its way towards the top of the agenda and media spotlight, although not completely eclipsing the principal concern on everyone’s minds—economic issues, tariffs and the ongoing trade discussions between U.S. President Donald Trump and his counterparts.
While Israel’s campaign to cripple Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile capability continued, the leaders who mostly already echoed each other’s positions on the war, agreed on a final statement issued on June 17.
“We, the leaders of the G7, reiterate our commitment to peace and stability in the Middle East. In this context, we affirm that Israel has a right to defend itself. We reiterate our support for the security of Israel,” read the statement.
“We also affirm the importance of the protection of civilians. Iran is the principal source of regional instability and terror. We have been consistently clear that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon. We urge that the resolution of the Iranian crisis leads to a broader de-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, including a ceasefire in Gaza. We will remain vigilant to the implications for international energy markets and stand ready to coordinate, including with like-minded partners, to safeguard market stability.”
Hours after the statement was released, Israel’s embassy in Ottawa issued a brief response, noting, “The G7 countries’ unequivocal stance against Iran’s nuclear program and against its threat to Israel, to the Middle East and indeed the international community, while acknowledging Israel’s right to self defence, and stating their clear support for the security of Israel is a highly appropriate position towards Iran that aims to annihilate and destroy democracy and peace.”
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs interim president Noah Shack said the G7 declaration “delivered the kind of moral clarity these times demand,” noting the statement recognized that the Iranian regime is at the core of broader regional instability. “Just as Iran rains missiles on Israeli civilians, it has militarized Gaza through its support for Hamas over many years—culminating in the October 7 massacre.”
Confronting the Iranian threat and its proxies is essential to building a better future for Israelis, Palestinians, and all who live in the region said Shack. “And given Iran’s global reach as a state supporter of terrorism, it also matters for the collective safety of Canadians.”
Israeli consul-general for Quebec and Atlantic provinces, Paul Hirschson, told The CJN the G7 statement “sounds nice,” but regarding resolution of the Iranian crisis, “we can’t talk about a broader crisis; this is the crisis. We honestly need more than words to generate a situation which will actually change these things that we all agree on.”
On Monday, pundits worldwide tried to discern the meaning and odds of escalation, after the White House announced that Trump was leaving the summit a day early, “because of what’s going on in the Middle East.”
His message Monday evening was: “Iran should have signed the “deal” I told them to sign. What a shame, and waste of human life. Simply stated, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. I said it over and over again! Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!”
Talking about “the dirty work Israel does for all of us,” German chancellor Friedrich Merz, in Alberta, told a German news channel, “This mullah regime has brought death and destruction upon the world with attacks, with murder and manslaughter with Hezbollah and with Hamas on October 7, 2023.” He added, “I have the utmost respect for the fact the Israeli army had the courage to do that, the Israeli leadership had the courage to do that.”
With the tally of casualties standing at 24 dead in Israel and 224 in Iran, on Monday, Global Affairs Canada announced that due to increased risk of escalating conflict, four non-critical personnel and 20 dependents were temporarily relocated from Tel Aviv and Ramallah to a safe third country. “The Embassy of Canada to Israel in Tel Aviv and the Representative Office of Canada in Ramallah remain operational and continue to provide essential services to Canadians, including consular services.”
To provide support to affected missions, including Ramallah and Tel Aviv, Global Affairs Canada has deployed members of Standing Rapid Deployment Team (SRDT), composed of highly trained employees who are on standby ready to deploy on short notice to assist the government with emergency response, coordination, consular assistance, and logistical support.
According to the Registration of Canadians abroad service, there are more than 80,000 registrants in the Middle East, including over 3,500 in Iran and over 6,700 in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, although the numbers may not be accurate given registration is voluntary and many are outdated. GAC officials are nonetheless reaching out to all of them about the ongoing situation and encouraging them to update their registration to help facilitate communication and consular support in emergencies. “The advice to leave by commercial means if you can do so safely applies to some destinations in the region. Where there is an advisory to avoid all travel, it means that Canadians who are already there should think about leaving if it is safe to do so.” GAC says it has received no reports of Canadians injured or killed due to the recent escalations.
