Behind the scenes of Trudeau's Israel balancing act

Plus, international students banned from a food bank and what the Nygard trial jury wasn't told [The Star] First Up [By Manuela Vega] By Manuela Vega Good morning. Here’s the latest on Ottawa’s response to the Israel-Hamas war, a Brampton food bank banning international students and the omissions at Peter Nygard’s sexual assault trial. DON’T MISS Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images israel-hamas war [Behind the scenes, the Trudeau government’s balancing act is getting even tougher ]( Amid the Israel-Hamas war, sources in the federal government have described the last month as the most challenging one they’ve faced since the Liberals came to power, Tonda MacCharles reports. Like many other governments, Canada has tried to carefully parse its words — sometimes unsuccessfully — while articulating its support for Israel in the face of mounting public pressure to disavow the military response to the Oct. 7 Hamas attack. [Here’s an inside look at how the past four weeks have unfolded within the government](. - Meanwhile: Israeli strikes pounded Gaza City into Thursday, drawing closer to the territory’s largest hospital. [Is a three-day humanitarian cease-fire coming?]( - Martin Regg Cohn’s take: Canadians who seek justice in the Israel-Hamas war [should choose their words — and their targets — very carefully](. - Shree Paradkar’s take: Amid Israel’s onslaught in Gaza, [the Jewish voices offering nuance — and dissent — are more important than ever](. - IfNotNow’s take: As a people who have survived genocide, [when we say “never again,” we mean “never again” for anyone](. R.J. Johnston/The Star cost of living [A Brampton food bank is banning international students]( The food bank at the Ste. Louis Outreach Centre of Peel has been operating for more than 40 years, serving 2,600 families, according to board president Catherine Rivera. But the growing number of people using their services prompted the centre to post a sign warning that “NO international students” will be serviced, Andy Takagi reports. According to Rivera, it’s partially because international students who arrive in Canada are required to prove that they meet minimum requirements to support themselves. [One food bank CEO is questioning that rationale](. - Go deeper: [One in four Canadians will turn to charitable services like food banks over the next six months]( a new Ipsos poll suggested Wednesday. - By the numbers: According to a federal website, a student typically has to prove they have $10,000 ($833 per month), not including tuition, plus additional minimum funding requirements for accompanying family members.  - More: A new report has found newcomers earn considerably less than non-immigrants. [Take a look at the numbers](. Cole Burston/AFP via Getty Images courts [The many, many things Peter Nygard’s Toronto jury was not told]( A jury is deliberating on the guilt or innocence of former fashion mogul Peter Nygard after hearing emotional testimonies from five women who say Nygard sexually assaulted them. There’s a lot they weren’t told, however, because it wasn’t directly relevant to the case. They weren’t informed of allegations from other complainants that never went to trial, pending criminal cases against Nygard, a lawsuit involving more than 50 women, or a suggestion that Nygard’s “arch-enemy” has been pulling the strings behind the scenes, Jacques Gallant reports. [Here’s what else the jury was — and was not — told](. - More: The complainants say the assaults took place in Toronto between the late 1980s and 2005. Some testified about having no idea how to escape a room they said had no handles, and a few spoke about being fearful of going to the police. - More: Nygard, 82, pleaded not guilty to five counts of sexual assault and one count of forcible confinement in the case. [Smart Money newsletter launch] Get expert help with your money. If you’re looking for advice you can trust when it comes to managing your finances, you might like the Star’s new Smart Money newsletter, [sponsored by Fidelity](. Every week, Smart Money will break down what you need to know to make, save and manage your money. [Sign up for free here](. WHAT ELSE Toronto has a bold plan to make housing more affordable — [now it needs money to make it happen](. The City of Toronto is taking down Etobicoke’s coat of arms. [A councillor is fighting the decision](. Justin Trudeau promised to plant 2 billion trees. [Critics question if he]( do it — and if it will actually help](. A ransomware attack affecting Michael Garron Hospital has [compromised the personal data of employees and clinicians](. The Supreme Court of Canada is hearing a case on [broken treaty promises with up to $126-billion award on the line](. Ontario is hoping to ban employers from asking for Canadian work experience. [Here’s what you need to know](. Tucker Carlson and Danielle Smith will have loads to talk about. [That should worry us all](. Alberta’s proposal to quit the Canada Pension Plan has [eerie echoes of Brexit.]( A 23-year-old Quebec mayor has resigned mid-mandate, [citing burnout from managing forest fires](. Paxlovid was hailed as a COVID game-changer. [Here's what we know about the drug today](. The Hollywood actors strike is over. [Here’s what we know about the tentative deal the union reached with studios](. Keith Haring walked so today’s queer creatives could run. [Five local artists explain why the his AGO show matters](. POV Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick [Pierre Poilievre is winning over Canadians. Why isn’t Justin Trudeau fighting back?]( CLOSE-UP Hatem Moussa/AP GAZA STRIP: Palestinians flee to the southern Gaza Strip on Salah al-Din Street in Bureij on Wednesday. A Canadian woman who evacuated Gaza with the first cohort of citizens this week is soon flying to her home in Mississauga, Ont. From Gaza to Egypt, [here’s how she describes fleeing with her young children](. Thank you for reading. You can reach me and the First Up team at [firstup@thestar.ca](mailto:firstup@thestar.ca?source=newsletter&utm_source=ts_nl&utm_medium=emailutm_email=6C53B63A8E3FAD70AD4EF13004527437&utm_campaign=frst_203531). I’ll see you back here tomorrow. If you're not enjoying these emails, please tell us how we can make them better by emailing newsletterfeedback@thestar.ca. Or, if you'd prefer, you can unsubscribe from this newsletter by clicking the first link below. 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