Canada has chance to support Israel after Sinwar death: expert

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A prominent Israeli military analyst says that Canada should use the death of Yahya Sinwar, who helped orchestrate the October 7 massacre, as an opportunity to support Israel, but, he adds, it’s more likely that some Canadians will take to the streets to mourn the Hamas leader.

After reports emerged on Thursday about the assassination of Sinwar, the Israeli Defense Forces confirmed it in a post on X.

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“You will see on Canadian streets Hamas supporters, rent-a-crowds, Iran paid crowds and Samidoun paid crowds … expressing their dissatisfaction with the elimination of Sinwar,” Lt. Col. (Ret.) Jonathan Conricus told the National Post on Thursday from Tel Aviv. Conricus is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and a former IDF spokesperson.

“You will see spontaneous displays of grief … and there might be violence. I think there’s definitely a chance they will be violent because this is a big loss for them. It’s a big loss for Hamas. It’s a big loss for the Iranians. It’s a setback for them.”

This moment could be an opportunity for Canada, Conricus added.

“Now that Israel is again successful against those enemies, that’s a good opportunity to join Israel, support Israel, and perhaps most importantly, when we look towards the future, be part of a positive sustainable change in southern Israel and Gaza and the removal of Hamas,” he said.

“The train of opportunity is still in the station for Canada, for Canadian elected leaders to actually be on the right side of history.”

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The death of Sinwar could mark the beginning of the end of the war and it could also lead to the release of the hostages, said Conricus. Western countries like Canada could assist in the transition. And while he hopes for that support, what he’s seen so far in Canada is “leniency and lack of enforcement.”

“I am concerned about how tainted and unfortunate Canadian political actions in Israel have been over the last at least eight months — almost a year. Very regrettable to see Canada in many cases actually choosing the side of Hamas over the side of Israel, and the side of Iran over the side of Israel. But nevertheless Israel is fighting on and today Israel reaps another success”

One way Canada can combat Hamas ideology, and the ideology of terrorism, spreading through the country, is through education and law enforcement — two things that seemed to be lacking, according to the Jewish Canadians that Conricus has spoken to, including people from Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg and Edmonton.

“They are very afraid because they do not feel protected. They feel that extremists … are given free reign by Canadian law enforcement. They’re allowed to go into Jewish neighbourhoods and they’re allowed to fire at synagogues with firearms.”

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Over the weekend, shots were fired at a Jewish elementary school for the second time this year on the morning of Yom Kippur, judaism’s holiest day. Recently, Samidoun — known for its anti-Israel protests — was listed  as a terrorist organization in Canada.

Earlier Thursday morning, the IDF said it was likely that Sinwar was killed in an IDF operation in Gaza.

“In the building where the terrorists were eliminated, there were no signs of the presence of hostages in the area. The forces that are operating in the area are continuing to operate with the required caution,” said the IDF on X.

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