Neil Saravanamuttoo, who is running for mayor of Ottawa, Canada, is making the genocide accusation against Israel a central theme of his campaign despite the fact that he will not be setting foreign policy as the leader of a local government.

“Running for mayor, one question I get asked surprisingly often is, ‘What is your stand on the conflict in Gaza?'” he said in a video statement explaining his position. “I’ve talked to more people on this issue than just about any other.”

Saravanamuttoo said that he accepts the findings of the U.N. Commission of Inquiry, which published two reports accusing Israel of genocide, without acknowledging the commissioners’ record of antisemitic statements that prejudiced their investigation.

Although he has no authority to set foreign policy, the mayoral candidate said it’s important to call out injustice.

“Some ask why discuss this. The mayor is not the foreign affairs minister. That’s true. But those in positions of authority have a responsibility to call out injustice, not simply stand in silence,” he explained, promising to raise the Palestinian flag at City Hall if elected.

After stating that he stands against all forms of hatred, including antisemitism, he concluded by saying, “I will not stand in silence. I will call out the genocide happening in Gaza.”

Making the Gaza war central to a campaign has become popular among candidates running for office, such as Abdul El-Sayed, the Michigan Democrat running for the U.S. Senate. NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani also featured his anti-Israel position in his campaign and has been accused of turning it into an obsession instead of focusing on what’s important to New Yorkers.