Carney says Canada not considering sanctioning Israel over Lebanon strikes

By Canadian Press on April 9, 2026.

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada is not considering sanctions on Israel after it attacked Lebanon this week and appeared to violate a ceasefire agreement in the Middle East.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran just hours before a Tuesday night deadline he had set for a mass-bombing campaign in that country.

Despite that agreement, Israel attacked Lebanon Wednesday in a renewed effort to strike the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group, and Israel and the U.S. have both said Lebanon was not part of the peace deal.

Carney says the ceasefire is “very fragile” but insisted the end of hostilities in the Middle East must include Lebanon.

He says Canada will use its influence to support peace efforts but adds he is not considering using sanctions right now to achieve that goal.

Carney is in Montreal today breaking ground on a port expansion in the city ahead of the Liberal party’s national convention.