Canadian Parliament Member Defends Israeli Action in Gaza in Epic Twitter Battle
by Shiryn Ghermezian
Canadian MP Peter Kent stood behind Israel's military action in Gaza. Photo: Twitter.
In a heated exchange with a Twitter user on Tuesday, Canadian Member of Parliament Peter Kent defended Israel’s military action in the Gaza Strip during last summer’s war.
Kent on Monday had posted on Twitter a photo of Operation Nemesis, a novel by Eric Bogosian. Kent recommended reading the book to commemorate the Armenian Genocide ahead of Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, on April 24.
A Twitter user by the name Gerald Perkins commented on the picture on Tuesday and accused Kent of “politically using a 100 yr old atrocity.” Perkins included a link to a 2014 article published by The Guardian about casualties of the Israel-Gaza conflict. He then compared the Armenian Genocide to what he called “GazaGenocide.”
“Political / corporate elite ignored #ArmenianGenocide until expedient. Today same elite ignoring #GazaGenocide. That’s you,” Perkins wrote addressing Kent. “Look at the facts of what’s going on & not thru an ideological filter.”
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The Conservative politician, who appeared to be offended by the comparison, responded to Perkins’ comment saying, “If you know your history..then + now..you know the difference!”
“Hamas responsible for Gaza tragedy: refusal to co-exist, sacrificing innocents,” he added. Directly addressing Perkins, he wrote, “I suggest you read the Hamas Charter dedicated to destruction of Israel. #StopIslamicTerror.”
Perkins refused to back down and elevated the social media clash by telling Kent, “I suggest u look into your heart & contemplate the horror perpetrated daily on the children of Gaza.” Kent shot back saying Hamas, not Israel, should be blamed for innocents suffering in Gaza.
“No question Gaza innocents suffer: U shud direct ur fury @ those responsible #hamasterror,” Kent wrote.
