Liberal staffers pull support for party in Montreal byelection, citing government's stance on Gaza

The Liberal Party of Canada is facing a revolt by ministerial staffers, mostly of Arab and Muslim origin, over the Trudeau government's handling of the war in Gaza and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict generally.

Fifty-two Arab and Muslim staffers working in the Liberal government signed a letter addressed to «the leader of the Liberal Party» that says they will not participate in its byelection campaign to hold on to the seat of LaSalle–Emard–Verdun, left vacant by the resignation of former Liberal justice minister David Lametti.

Referring to «the increasing push for Liberal staff members to phone bank and door knock,» the letter obtained by CBC News warns that «while many of us started our political careers in elections as volunteers, we can no longer in good conscience campaign for a party that excludes us and our values.»

Staffers are not acting alone. They have also asked for and received the support of a group of influential Arab and Muslim donors to the Liberal Party known as the Network 100-GTA, London, Ottawa, Montreal.

Back in November, the Network announced it was pulling out of the Liberal Party's top donor ranks over Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's disinclination at the time to call for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict.

«They're far more brave than we are,» said Hussein Hamdani, a founding member of that fundraising group, in an interview with CBC News.

«We held back our money, sure… They're putting their own livelihood at risk,» he said.

«I'm hoping that the party recognizes that this is not some people who may or may not be donating,» he added. «Maybe they think they can find other donors, but you can't just find 50 staff overnight.

»What [the staff] are really trying to do is help the Liberal Party wake