Asked to clarify if he sees genocide in Gaza, Carney says he 'didn't hear that word'

Liberal Leader Mark Carney clarified a remark he made on Tuesday suggesting he agreed with the allegation that Israel's military action in Gaza qualifies as a genocide.

While at a rally in Calgary, someone in the crowd — who did not appear on camera — shouted: "Mr. Carney, there's a genocide in Palestine!" as the Liberal leader was getting settled on the stage. 

Carney replied: "I'm aware. That's why we have an arms embargo," before Liberal supporters drowned out the questioner by chanting the Liberal leader's name.

Asked the following day to provide clarity on his response, Carney said he did not hear the word "genocide" and was just "stating a fact in terms of the arms restrictions."

"I didn't hear that word," Carney said at a campaign stop in Calgary on Wednesday where he announced his energy plan. 

"It's noisy. If you're up there you hear snippets of what people say and I heard Gaza, and my point was I'm aware of the situation in Gaza," he said.

"Canada does … have restrictions, probably from January 2024, on arms exports, or permits for arms exports to Israel with the sole exception of the Iron Dome which protects them more broadly."

Canada, Israel and arms sales

Israel's military operation began after the Hamas-led attack on southern Israeli communities on Oct. 7, 2023, which killed 1,200 people and captured more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. 

Since then, Israel has reduced much of Gaza to ruins and killed more than 50,000 Palestinians in its effort to decimate Hamas, according to the enclave's health authorities.

Watch | Carney clarifies Gaza comments during recent rally: 

Carney clarifies Gaza comments during recent rally

4 days ago

Duration 1:15

Liberal Leader Mark Carney, speaking from Calgary on Day 18 of the election campaign, is asked about his interaction with a protester at a recent rally who yelled, ‘there’s a genocide in Gaza’ and Carney responded, ‘I’m aware.’ Carney said it was noisy at the rally and that he 'didn't hear that word,' referring to genocide.

The federal government lists Hamas as a terrorist organization. 

Since Israel's military action in Gaza began, the Canada's Liberal government has been under pressure to halt arms exports to Israel.

In January 2024, the federal government began to take action by halting the approval of all new military export permits to the country.

In March, the Liberals joined the NDP to pass a motion to stop authorizing "arms exports to Israel to ensure compliance with Canada's arms export regime and increase efforts to stop the illegal trade of arms, including to Hamas."

After concerns emerged that military equipment may still be flowing from Canada to Israel under previously approved permits, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly asked officials to look into whether arms were still being sent to the country. 

"Following that, I suspended, this summer, around 30 existing permits of Canadian companies and we are asking questions to these companies," Joly said last fall.