By Barry Ellsworth
TRENTON, Canada (AA) - Canada said Tuesday that it will continue to provide CAN$55 million ($40.5 million) in humanitarian and development aid to Palestinians while ensuring no funds are diverted to Hamas.
"We will continue to support civilians with life-saving humanitarian aid while ensuring that no money goes into the hands of Hamas," Alex Tetreault of International Development Minister Ahmed Hussen’s office said Tuesday in an email to CBC News.
But Prime Minister Justin Trudeau left no doubt with whom Canada stands in the conflict which began Saturday with a surprise attack on Israel by the Palestinian Hamas group. Both Trudeau and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre attended a rally in support of Israel on Monday.
"Canada unequivocally and in the strongest possible terms condemns these terrorist attacks perpetrated by Hamas," Trudeau said Monday. "We stand with Israel and reaffirm our support for Israel's right to defend itself in accordance with international law."
Tetreault said Palestinian aid money goes through international organizations such as Oxfam and the Red Cross and none goes to Hamas, which is the government of the Gaza Strip and is considered by Canada to be a terrorist organization.
Similarly, none of the aid funds flows to the Palestinian Authority, which governs semi-autonomous areas of the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
"The department exercises enhanced due diligence and uses anti-terrorism clauses in partner agreements to prevent funds being diverted to terrorist groups. These efforts are continuously reviewed to adapt to changing times and rapidly evolving situations."
Meanwhile, the attack on Israel has also caused major airlines to suspend flights, and Canada is pondering an airlift of Canadians out of the area. According to Global Affairs Canada, there are 1,419 registered Canadians in Israel and another 492 in the Palestinian territories.