Food as a Weapon? IDF Rejects Canada’s Accusation
Canada’s foreign minister accuses Israel of using food as a weapon. The IDF hits back hard. Who's telling the truth in Gaza?
Harrison Faulkner
May 19, 2025 - 8:53 PM
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Last week, Anita Anand, Canada’s new foreign affairs minister, told reporters in Ottawa, “We cannot allow the continued use of food as a political tool.” She went on to accuse Israel of being the “aggressors” in Gaza, saying “over 50,000 people have died as a result of the aggression caused against the Palestinians and the Gazan people in Palestine." These allegations, however, stand in stark contrast to the reality presented by Israeli officials.
IDF Rejects Accusations
Addressing the accusations during a press trip to Israel sponsored by the Exigent Foundation, IDF International Spokesperson Lt.-Col. Nadav Shoshani categorically dismissed claims of starvation in Gaza, describing them as “having no connection to reality". Shoshani emphasized that Israel has facilitated the delivery of over 1.4 million tons of aid into Gaza, even after Hamas targeted aid crossings and weaponized humanitarian resources against Israeli civilians.
“Our goal,” Shoshani stated, “is to ensure that aid reaches the people of Gaza, not Hamas.”
Complex Humanitarian Crisis
While a recent UN-backed report from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification warns of “high levels of acute food insecurity” in Gaza and a growing “risk of famine,” the situation is complicated by the ongoing conflict and Hamas’s role as a militant actor within the Strip.
The humanitarian situation has drawn international concern. Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump acknowledged the dire conditions, saying on Truth Social, “We’re looking at Gaza. And we’re going to get that taken care of. A lot of people are starving.” In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the immediate resumption of aid deliveries, underscoring Israel’s willingness to address humanitarian needs despite security challenges.
Israel Defends Its Right to Self-Defense
When confronted with the charge that Israel is waging an “aggressive” war against Palestinians, Shoshani was unequivocal: “Israel is the only country in the world that is attacked on seven fronts and is blamed as being the aggressor.” He reminded reporters that the conflict was initiated by Hamas’s brutal assault on October 7 and that Hamas continues to hold Gaza’s civilians hostage, threatening further attacks.
In a partial climbdown late Sunday evening Anand called on Hamas to release all remaining Israeli hostages and to surrender in Gaza.
Battling Misinformation in Real Time
The IDF is also actively countering misinformation. Shoshani noted the difficulty of disproving false claims in wartime, explaining, “A lot of our efforts now are to monitor and see fake news coming up and look for the answers and combat that, which is very hard.” In the fog of conflict, misinformation spreads quickly, and Israel’s communications strategy is evolving to meet this challenge head-on. “In wartime, to prove that something didn’t happen is much harder than to prove that something did happen.”
As the Gaza crisis deepens, the international community’s attention to humanitarian concerns is vital but so too is an honest assessment of the realities on the ground. Accusations that Israel is weaponizing food or waging unprovoked aggression obscure the complexity of the conflict and the fundamental role Hamas plays in perpetuating suffering for civilians on both sides.
A Pattern of Political Posturing in Ottawa?
Perhaps Anita Anand was simply unprepared for the demands of her new, high-profile role. Last week’s remarks marked her first press conference since being sworn in as Canada’s foreign minister. But that is hardly an excuse. Anand is no newcomer, she served as Canada’s minister of national defence and has held several senior cabinet positions.
She knows what’s happening in Gaza. She knows that Hamas has repeatedly stolen and obstructed humanitarian aid meant for civilians. She knows that Israel, despite facing rocket fire and cross-border attacks, has facilitated the delivery of over 1.4 million tons of aid into the Strip.
So why say things that contradict reality?
Canadians should not be surprised. Anti-Israel sentiment has crept into the mainstream of Canadian politics. In the last federal election, more than 300 candidates, including 20 from the ruling Liberal Party, endorsed a full arms embargo against Israel and supported boycotts of Israeli settlements in disputed territories. Prime Minister Mark Carney himself has backed the embargo and repeated the claim that Israel is blocking aid.
For Canada to play a constructive role on the global stage, its foreign policy must be grounded not in slogans, but in facts. And the facts in Gaza are complex but clear: Israel is responding to an unprecedented terror attack while Hamas continues to exploit civilians and obstruct humanitarian aid. Civilians on both sides deserve better than political posturing.
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Harrison Faulkner
Canadian Journalist | Content Creator