MONTREAL — Mayor Jeremy Levi sparked controversy June 26 by posting on X that “Anita Anand has to be the de facto leader of the Hamas wing of the Liberal party,” questioning her linkage of the IRGC nuclear threat to Israel and Gaza.
Levi’s remarks came in response to Ottawa’s recent statements on the Iran–Israel ceasefire. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said on X that Canada “welcomes the announcement of a ceasefire between Iran and Israel.”
She urged parties to “adhere to the ceasefire; address Iran’s nuclear program through comprehensive, verifiable negotiations; and reduce hostilities in the Middle East, including a ceasefire in Gaza.”
She added that Canada will “advocate for the security of civilians across the region” and encouraged Canadians abroad to register with Global Affairs Canada.
Prime Minister Mark Carney echoed those points in his own X post, stating that Canada “welcomes the announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and Iran.” Carney praised the reported reduction in Iran’s nuclear capacity and called on all sides to “return to the table and negotiate a diplomatic resolution,” leading to a broader de-escalation, including a ceasefire in Gaza.
Levi dismissed such diplomatic efforts as misplaced. “What exactly does the IRGC nuclear threat to the world have to do with Israel & Gaza?” he wrote, likening the linkage to conflating Quebec language laws with Alberta oil production policy.
Anand’s and Carney’s statements came after U.S. diplomatic breakthroughs that led to a phased ceasefire between Tehran and Jerusalem last week. Both officials emphasized Canada’s coordination with allies and its ongoing consular support for Canadians in the region.
This article is based on verified information from Jeremy Levi’s X post, Anita Anand’s and Mark Carney’s official statements on X, and reports by The Canadian Jewish News.