Adedokun Waliyu 
Ontario’s NDP leader is calling for one of her MPP’s to retract a controversial social media post made about the Israel-Hamas war.
Hamilton Centre MPP Sarah Jama posted a two-paragraph statement under Ontario NDP letterhead that made no mention of the past weekend’s surprise attack by Hamas. The Tuesday afternoon post instead chose to focus on the decades-long struggle of Palestinians under Israeli occupation, which she referred to as “apartheid.”
“I call for immediate ceasefire and de-escalation,” Jama wrote. “We must look to the solution to this endless cycle of death and destruction: end all occupation of Palestinian land and end apartheid.”
The social media post included the hashtag “FreePalestine.”
NDP Leader Marit Stiles released her own statement in response to Jama’s comments, saying the MPP’s message was not approved by her caucus and asked her to retract the statement. Stiles called on Jama to instead state clearly that “she decries any violence against both Israeli and Palestinian people.”
“This statement does not reflect our party’s position, which is articulated in our federal party’s statement,” reads Stiles’ response. “The terrorist attacks by Hamas on thousands of innocent Israeli citizens are unjustifiable and must be condemned unequivocally.”
Jama’s original post could still be seen on social media as of Wednesday morning. No other subsequent posts had been made regarding the matter.
Her statement has drawn heavy condemnation from several Jewish advocacy groups, including the Centre of Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), who are calling for Jama to be removed from caucus.
“This statement is filled with lies that will do nothing to create peace and will only serve to foment hatred against Canada’s Jewish community,” reads a CIJA statement.
Interim Ontario Liberal Leader John Fraser similarly called for Stiles to remove the Hamilton MPP when her statement remained up hours after the NDP leader called for a retraction.
“It shouldn’t take this long when your leader asks you publicly to retract,” wrote Fraser on X. “It’s time for Marit Stiles to do the right thing and remove Ms. Jama from her caucus.”
Jama won a provincial byelection earlier this year, claiming the seat that was previously held by longtime NDP party leader Andrea Horwath. Her campaign garnered controversy and criticism from Jewish organizations at that time due to some of her previous associations and remarks.
B’nai Brith, a Jewish human rights group who also condemned the MPP’s most recent statement, said at the time she was a “radical anti-Israel advocate.”
During her campaign, Jama said the criticism stemmed from her standing up for Palestinian human rights and her association with student groups. She publicly denounced anti-Semitism during a debate.
Israel continued to hammer Gaza on Wednesday in retaliation for the surprise attack by Hamas militants on Israeli soil over the weekend, with fighting causing the deaths of at least 2,000 people so far.
Israel has vowed an unprecedented offensive after the Islamic militant group’s fighters broke through the border fence and stormed into the country’s south on Saturday, gunning down hundreds of Israelis in their homes, on the streets and at an outdoor music festival.
The Israeli military said more than 1,200 people, including 155 soldiers, have died in Israel since the incursion. In Gaza, 950 people have been killed, including 260 children and 230 women, according to authorities there.
