OTTAWA (Reuters) – Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Monday that the treatment of activists detained by Israel had been “appalling” and described the situation in Gaza as “catastrophic,” Carney’s office said in a statement.
“The Prime Minister reiterated that the appalling treatment of civilians, including Canadian citizens, aboard the Gaza-bound flotilla was unacceptable, and he called for an independent investigation,” the statement said.
Carney, it said, also reaffirmed Canada’s opposition to illegal Israeli settlement expansion, settler violence in the West Bank, and violence against Palestinian civilians.
Although Carney last week denounced Israel’s handling of the flotilla members, the broad scope of his condemnation on Monday underlines how strained ties have become between Israel and some of its closest allies.
During the call, Israeli President Isaac Herzog “expressed his condemnation of the pro-Hamas flotilla which directly aimed to undermine UN Security Council Resolution 2803 and its next phase, including the disarmament of Hamas and the establishment of a new government in Gaza,” Herzog’s office said in a statement.
Israel has repeatedly said flotilla activists were linked to Hamas but has not provided evidence.
“The two leaders agreed that Iran is a regional and global threat and must never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon,” Herzog’s office added.
Activists released after being detained on a flotilla trying to bring aid to Gaza were subjected to abuse, organizers said, with several hospitalized with injuries and at least 15 reporting sexual assaults, including rape. Israel’s prison service denied the allegations.
Israel’s ambassador to Canada last week told the Globe and Mail newspaper that bilateral government-to-government relations were the worst they had ever been.
Separately, Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand said she had spoken to her Israeli counterpart, Gideon Saar, on Monday and told him Ottawa would provide Israel evidence of the mistreatment of Canadians on the flotilla.
“I raised that denying Canadian citizens access to consular services while they were detained violates the Vienna Convention and must never happen again,” she said in a post on X.
For his part, Saar said he had told Anand the activists had been inspired by Hamas.
“I also highlighted the horrific antisemitic wave in Canada – an average of 19 incidents a day. The Canadian government must take steps against antisemitic incitement and attacks,” he said in a post on X.
Flotilla organisers say they aimed to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza by delivering humanitarian aid, which charities say is still in short supply despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamasin place since October 2025 that includes guarantees of increased assistance.
