Bonnie Crombie pressed on 'weak' Gaza ceasefire stance at Hamilton mosque
Community members wondered why she was there in the first place, as Crombie insists she wants to 'listen'
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Mississauga Mayor and Ontario Liberal leadership hopeful Bonnie Crombie was pressed while at a mosque in Hamilton. pic.twitter.com/Me3iR18pPj
— Ahmar Khan (@AhmarSKhan) November 21, 2023
Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie faced stern questions from community members during a Sunday night visit to a Hamilton mosque over her stance on the current situation unfolding in Gaza, which has been rocked by more than six weeks of Israeli bombardment.
Crombie, who is a frontrunner for the Ontario Liberal Party leadership, was told by a voice off camera in a video posted to social media that she will "not get the Muslim vote," as others urged her to "condemn Israel" over "the killing of innocent babies."
"Will you make one tweet," another voice pleaded. "It takes 10 seconds to make one tweet to condemn Israel killing innocent babies."
Hamilton Muslims call out Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie for not calling for a ceasefire. pic.twitter.com/tabY0ypLNP
— Hussein E (@therealhebrahim) November 20, 2023
Crombie answered that she would put out a statement on social media in which "we will ask for permanent peace and for the killing to stop." This post on X, formerly known as Twitter, was published a day later.
Yesterday, I was invited by members of the Muslim community in Hamilton to attend a meeting at the Hamilton Mountain Mosque and listen. I was grateful for the invitation and for the opportunity to hear firsthand the concerns of the community during this extremely difficult time.…
— Bonnie Crombie 🇨🇦 (@BonnieCrombie) November 21, 2023
In the statement, Crombie writes: "I would like to appeal for all killing to stop and for hostages to be released, for the war to end, and for peace efforts to resume."
“My prayers are not just for the Middle East but also for all of us at home.”
Bonnie Crombie was at the Hamilton Mountain Mosque to 'listen'
Crombie’s campaign told Yahoo News Canada she was invited by the Muslim community of Hamilton “to listen” and “that is exactly what she did.”
“Bonnie is grateful for the invitation and for the opportunity to hear firsthand the concerns of the community during this extremely difficult time,” Crombie’s team said in a statement shared with Yahoo News Canada.
Bonnie Crombie is up against Ted Hsu, Yasir Naqvi and Nate Erskine-Smith for the Ontario Liberal Party leadership, voting for which will begin next week with results expected Dec. 2.
Canadians react: Crombie blasted for 'nonsense,' 'weak stance' over Gaza at mosque
Clips of Crombie from her Sunday evening appearance at a Hamilton mosque were quickly re-shared on social media, with many unhappy over her "weak stance" in refusing to call for an outright ceasefire in Gaza.
So proud of our Muslim brothers and sisters in Hamilton. I am wondering what was the public statement Bonnie Crombie made when Sara Jama the Hamilton elected member of the parliament was kicked out of the NDP for calling for a ceasefire and trying to call the Ontario parliament… https://t.co/K6RpLztzWR
— Bahira Abdulsalam PhD PEng 🇨🇦 (@BahiraR) November 20, 2023
: Will you condemn Israel bombing children?
: “I hear you. I see your passion. You’re hurting.”
: “We’re not children. We’re grown ups. Don’t talk down to us anymore. Or you will not get the Muslim vote.”
A+ response to the we-see-you nonsense! 👊🏼 https://t.co/xyfpaJ2OQB— Nabila Idris (@NabilaIdris) November 22, 2023
(Un)Followed someone who thought her response here earned her the Premiership 🫥
— Jessa 🎙️🌹 (@Jessa_McLean) November 21, 2023
She said “Palestine” in person but couldn’t reflect it in her statement. Shame on you @BonnieCrombie. There is no two sides when it comes to genocide. https://t.co/d6bmP9zh4B pic.twitter.com/bMkZt2Icgs
— Wala (@falasteeniah) November 21, 2023
No where does she say ceasefire. No where does she acknowledge Israel as the perpetrator for atrocities.
She can play dress up at home and leave our mosques alone. https://t.co/sAEyLmFFXB— Ujyara (@UjyaraFarooq) November 21, 2023
The Mississauga, Ontario and Canadian public is only looking for clear, outright, loud and resounding leadership calling on an immediate ceasefire and the expulsion of all Israeli diplomats and the commencement of war crimes proceedings against the state of Israel at this point. https://t.co/A7dEUUjjN7
— Arshad Khan (@arshadfilms) November 21, 2023
Canadians react: Crombie commended for 'right move'
At least one user on X suggested Crombie had the difficult task of trying to appeal to all sides in this time.
It's impossible for politicians to be able to satisfy the diaspora politics of all their potential voters. There's 160 languages spoken in Toronto alone.
Appealing to universal and Canadian human rights principles is the only right move, and Crombie does this well here: https://t.co/2zb8Hg5r8l— Kashif Pirzada, MD (@KashPrime) November 21, 2023
Polling shows more Canadians want ceasefire in Gaza; leaders not keeping up
Crombie's night at the Hamilton mosque was not the first time a Canadian politician had to face the music over their refusal over calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Just last week, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was chased out of a Vancouver restaurant by pro-Palestine demonstrators who confronted him with “ceasefire now” chants at the downtown venue.
A House of Commons petition started one month ago has broken the record for most signatures ever for an e-petition, with more than 280,000 Canadians signing. It calls on Trudeau to demand an immediate ceasefire as Israeli bombardments have killed more than 13,000 Palestinians.
The most recent polling from Mainstreet Research found 71 per cent of Canadians support a ceasefire.