An activist posted a video asking him what number of Palestinian youngsters must die for him to alter his thoughts.
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Hampstead Mayor Jeremy Levi issued an announcement Tuesday reiterating his assist for Israel after a video posted on social media that includes him responding to an activist’s hypothetical questions concerning the conflict towards Hamas generated multiple million views.
‘I wish to specific my unwavering assist for Israel whereas acknowledging the tragic lack of harmless lives within the ongoing battle,” the assertion reads. “From the outset, I emphasised my agency stance towards the dying of youngsters or any lack of life. For my part, each human life is immeasurably valuable, a sentiment not shared by sure events reminiscent of Hamas. I genuinely sympathize with all of the harmless civilians who’ve tragically misplaced their lives on this battle. It’s essential to acknowledge the human price and tragedy that conflict brings.”
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“The collection of repetitive and hypothetical questions, particularly the final one, gave the impression to be geared toward persuading me to withdraw my assist for Israel. I wish to make it clear that my assist for Israel is absolute, agency, and enduring. I imagine within the nation’s proper to defend itself. Regardless of the gravity of this battle, I gained’t withdraw my assist.”
Within the one minute and 16 second video posted on X, previously referred to as Twitter, Yves Engler, who identifies himself as a Canadian creator and activist on his web site, approaches Levi at an outside occasion and so they have this trade:
Engler: “Are you calling for a ceasefire to permit the hostages to be returned?”
Levi: “I’m not calling for a ceasefire. I need the hostages house, however I’m not calling for a ceasefire.”
Engler: “So do you assist — do you assist killing 8,000 Palestinian youngsters?”
Levi: “I’d by no means assist that, it’s horrible. However Israel has to do no matter they must do to make sure the security and safety of their very own folks.”
Engler: “So, so even when 20,000 Palestinian youngsters have been killed, you’d nonetheless assist Israel?”
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Levi: “Hamas must be eradicated.”
Engler: “So it doesn’t matter? 50,000 Palestinian youngsters killed?”
Levi: “No, it’s horrible, however there’s no different approach. My coronary heart goes out to all the opposite harmless individuals who have suffered on this tragedy. However good must prevail over evil.”
Engler: “So 100,000 Palestinian youngsters killed, you’d nonetheless assist that?”
Levi: “You can provide me all types of numbers, my reply continues to be going to be the identical. Israel must eradicate Hamas.”
Engler: “So that you assist Israel it doesn’t matter what it does?”
Levi: “I assist Israel.”
Engler: “It doesn’t matter what it does?”
Levi: “Till the top. Till Hamas is victorious, I assist Israel.”
Engler: “So in the event that they drop a nuclear weapon on Gaza, you assist that?”
Levi: “That’s a ridiculous remark. That’s not going to occur. So you may give you all types of loopy nonsense.”
The introduction to the video on X, positioned by Engler, says this:
“Jarring admission from mayor of Montréal suburb. At occasion with Israel consul yesterday, Hampstead mayor Jeremy Levi instructed me he would proceed supporting Israel even when they killed 100 000 Palestinian youngsters in Gaza since “good must prevail over evil.”
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In the remainder of his assertion in response to the response to the video, Levi says:
“Whereas many questions have been posed, one essential query was omitted: Who do I maintain accountable? With out hesitation, my reply is unequivocal: I attribute 100 per cent of the blame to Hamas for the lack of harmless Palestinian lives. The deadliest assault on Jews because the Holocaust occurred on Oct. 7, and within the face of such threats, Israel has an obligation to forestall a recurrence. To cite Golda Meir: “If we’ve got a selection between being lifeless and pitied, and being alive with a foul picture, we’d reasonably be alive and have the unhealthy picture.”
“My honest hope is for an finish to the continuing conflict, and I imagine that may solely occur if Israel addresses the menace posed by Hamas, both by way of their eradication or their give up. I pray for peace day-after-day, and my sentiment is encapsulated within the phrase “Am Yisrael Chai” — the folks of Israel reside.
Engler notes in his X feed that Levi afterward blocked him on the social media platform.
In one other publish from the identical occasion, Engler approaches Anthony Housefather, member of Parliament for Mount Royal, and asks “What number of murdered Palestinian youngsters is just too many?” He yells the query once more when Housefather doesn’t reply and walks away.
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