A video circulated on social media platforms this weekend showing Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly in a tense confrontation with a man on a street in Montreal over the war between Israel and Hamas.

The man who recorded the video urged Joly to "raise the maximum number of Palestinian refugees" that Canada should welcome while she was walking on Laurier Street in the Mile End neighborhood on Friday.

Seconds after the interaction, it appeared that the minister was holding the man’s phone; he told her, "You can’t take my phone like that," then later said, "Leave my coat."

She seemed to then try to calm things down, saying she "cares about the issue" but was trying to enjoy a peaceful walk before being confronted.

When pressed about the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, she said to him, "I agree with you."

The man told her, "You have no right to walk around the city while allowing Palestinians to die," to which she responded, "Yes, I do have the right."

The video ended with Joly continuing to walk down the street.

In a statement to CTV News, the Foreign Minister's office said Joly "always welcomes conversations with her constituents, and all Montreal residents, about the issues most important to them. These conversations are very productive when handled with respect."

The statement continued, "In this case, it is clear that this interaction began with the intent to surprise her for a social media clip, not a constructive conversation."

The Gaza Ministry of Health announced today, Sunday, that more than 32,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war, most of them women and children. The ministry does not distinguish between fighters and civilians in the death toll, but international human rights organizations confirm that two-thirds of the deaths are women and children.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military said that more than a third of the dead are militants, but did not provide evidence to support this claim. Hamas also bears responsibility for civilian casualties because the movement operates in residential areas.

The United Nations and relief agencies said that more than 80 percent of Gaza’s 2.3 million population have been displaced since the start of the October 7 war, which saw 1,200 Israelis killed and 250 hostages held by Hamas, which Canada classifies as a terrorist organization.

Last week, CTV News reported that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is reviewing a large number of applications from citizens after the federal government in December announced it would allow 1,000 Palestinians to flee to Canada last week, by granting them temporary visas.

The department said in a statement on March 18: "As of March 4, 2024, we have 986 applications accepted for processing, meaning that applicants have used their unique reference number to submit a complete application," adding that it is doing its best to be flexible as it assesses the situation and has forwarded names of those who passed initial eligibility to local authorities.

"As of March 11, 2024, 14 individuals who left Gaza on their own and have Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) applications have completed their applications and have been approved to come to Canada. The data is preliminary and subject to change," it stated.