Defence Minister Bill Blair says Hamas has to be ‘eliminated’ as it poses a threat ‘not only to Israel, but to the world.’

The Liberal government has been supporting Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas, but now Defence Minister Bill Blair has gone a step further and said the organization needs to be “eliminated.”

“I think they have a right to defend themselves against that terrorist threat and, quite frankly, Hamas has to be eliminated as a threat, not just to Israel, but to the world,” Mr. Blair told reporters in Ottawa on Oct. 24. “They are a terrorist organization.”

Ottawa has been under pressure with regards to calling for a ceasefire given the humanitarian situation in Hamas-contolled Gaza. The Gaza health ministry says that over 5,000 Palestinians have been killed so far.