A heated debate in the House of Commons today regarding the situation in the Middle East between Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre and the government's Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly led to the latter demanding an apology from the leader of the official opposition in the chamber.

During the question period, Poilievre accused Minister Joly of "being lenient towards sympathizers of Hamas within the Liberal Party in the context of her leadership campaign instead of doing her job."

The Conservative leader criticized the Liberal minister for not seizing two opportunities he had previously given her to "condemn anti-Semitic, terrifying, and increasingly common chants that we hear on the streets."

Joly responded that today, October 7, which marks the first anniversary of the sudden and deadly attack launched by Hamas on Israel that ignited the current war between the two parties, is a very poor choice for scoring political points.

"We are all in this chamber, and that is what I hope, against any form of anti-Semitism and discrimination, and I truly hope that my colleague who is before me will apologize," Joly said, referring to Poilievre. Joly's Liberal colleagues then stood and applauded her loudly.