Canada's vote for a ceasefire in Gaza deeply divided Liberal MPs without questioning the party's unity, several of them argued.
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“The atmosphere within the group is very good,” said parliamentary leader Karina Gould, who is also Jewish, but referred to “difficult conversations” between colleagues with diametrically opposed opinions.
Since the start of hostilities sparked by the Hamas attack on October 7, Canada has consistently refrained from calling for a ceasefire.
On Wednesday he joined the growing number of countries calling for an end to the fighting.
The UN resolution was adopted with 153 votes in favour, 10 against (including Israel and the United States) and 23 abstentions from 193 member states.
Montreal MP Anthony Housefather said he was “very disappointed” with Canada's support for the UN resolution, which he said betrays his government's position since the start of the conflict, as the text does not condemn Hamas for its crimes.
When asked about his future within the group, Mr Housefather said he had always been a Liberal since his youth.
Former minister Marco Mendicino also strongly opposed Canada's support for the UN resolution.
AFP
A handful of Liberal MPs expressed discomfort or disagreement with their own government's position.
Conversely, for several Liberals, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, a ceasefire is an essential prerequisite for lasting peace in the region.
“Unlike Mr. Netanyahu, we are deeply convinced that a two-state solution is the only way to ensure security and peace in the region where Israelis will live in peace and security alongside a Palestinian state in which “The Palestinians will live in peace and security,” he said.
Before the question period, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau specifically reminded everyone that “a ceasefire cannot only happen on one side.”
“Hamas must lay down its weapons, must stop using civilians as human shields and must also realize that it will no longer play a role in governing Gaza in the future,” he said.
Despite his opposition to a ceasefire mandated by the UN resolution, Joe Biden also showed signs of impatience with the scale of Palestinian civilian casualties.
According to Rep. Gould, the differences of opinion expressed by members of the Liberal caucus reflect the differences of opinion among the general population.