Ottawa, May 2, 2024 – Humanitarian and human rights organizations will gather on Parliament Hill on May 2, 2024, as part of a powerful media action to demand that Canada stop sending arms to Israel.
May 2 marks a “Global Day of Action,” where activists worldwide will call on political leaders to urgently end arms transfers to Israel amid a catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Gaza. This day of action aims to mobilize global solidarity and hold governments like Canada accountable, as they are directly involved in the arms trade with Israel.
On March 18, the House of Commons passed a motion calling on Canada to cease arms transfers to Israel in the context of the current conflict in Gaza. The motion explicitly demands that the government stop future export authorizations and already approved transfers, both of which pose a significant risk of contributing to serious human rights violations. Canada must uphold its commitment under this motion and end all arms transfers to Israel.
The Canadian government has yet to address concerns that the implementation of this policy would only suspend the approval of future arms export permits to Israel, without affecting the hundreds of already approved arms transfers—including those worth nearly $30 million approved in the first two months of the conflict. Additionally, there is no indication that the announced policy will address the transfer of military-use parts and components to Israel via the United States, including Canadian-made components incorporated into F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jets used by Israel in Gaza bombings.
Organizations are calling for a complete cessation of arms transfers, including the cancellation of all existing permits already granted and the transit of parts and components to Israel via the United States. The total end of arms transfers to parties in the conflict is a necessary step to create the conditions for a ceasefire. Only a lasting ceasefire can prevent further civilian casualties and ensure that the required aid reaches those in need.
Over 200 days of complete siege and indiscriminate bombings have deprived the civilian population of essential survival resources and rendered Gaza nearly uninhabitable. More than 75,000 tons of explosives have been used to turn Gaza’s civilian infrastructure into rubble, destroying 70% of hospitals and causing immeasurable damage to civilian homes. In total, Israel has systematically eliminated all social determinants of health in Gaza, resulting in over 34,409 deaths, 72% of whom are women and children, and more than 75,092 injured.
Israel’s imminent ground attack on the city of Rafah will leave nearly a million civilians, already facing desperate circumstances and limited access to essential goods, with nowhere to go and push them, like those remaining in the north, to the brink of famine. This catastrophe must be averted. It is imperative that our political leaders act immediately.
QUOTES
“Since October, Canada has repeatedly called on parties to respect the principles of international humanitarian law. Yet, even in the face of the intensity of indiscriminate and systematic violence against civilians and humanitarian workers, even in the face of a risk of genocide, Canada has not ended its moral, military, and material support for the Israeli offensive. Military equipment is still being exported to Israel, and no economic or diplomatic sanctions have been applied. Third-party states to a conflict, like Canada, have an obligation to do everything reasonably within their power to ensure that international humanitarian law is respected.”
– Béatrice Vaugrante, Executive Director, Oxfam-Québec
“Amnesty International, United Nations experts, and other human rights advocacy groups are unanimous: countries that continue to transfer arms to Israel risk being complicit in war crimes against civilians in Gaza. Canada has clear obligations under the Arms Trade Treaty and must prevent its military equipment and technology from being used by parties that violate international humanitarian law and human rights. We urge Canada to immediately implement a complete arms embargo against Israel and armed groups fighting in Gaza.”
– Ketty Nivyabandi, Secretary General, Amnesty International Canada (English Section)
“Urgent action is needed as Israel signals that a ground invasion of Rafah is imminent, which would be devastating for the 1.4 million displaced Palestinians struggling to survive. Canada’s obligation under the Arms Trade Treaty is clear: we cannot continue to arm Israel when these weapons are clearly being used to commit war crimes. Canada wants to see a ceasefire, and canceling all arms transfers is a necessary step to achieve it.”
– Lauren Ravon, Executive Director, Oxfam Canada
“Gaza is the most dangerous place on Earth for civilians, as well as for healthcare workers and humanitarian aid workers. Famine is looming, and death is a daily reality. Providing care in this context of daily violence means accepting that the physical and psychological suffering of too many people cannot be alleviated. Canada, like the international community, must stop supporting this violation of international humanitarian law. This includes, among other things, ending all transfers of military equipment to Israel.”
– Nadja Pollaert, Executive Director, Doctors of the World Canada
“To date, Canada continues to arm Israel with arms transfers authorized before January 8, 2024. Despite decades of illegal settlements, extremist settler violence, the illegal siege and blockade of Gaza, and numerous other war crimes, Canada has continued to arm the occupation and the Israeli apartheid system. Our export control system is flawed, and nothing illustrates this problem better than our ongoing arms transfers to Israel. We call on the government to respect the democratic will of Parliament and impose a complete and immediate arms embargo on Israel. Arms transfers must stop.”
– Alex Paterson, Senior Director, Parliamentary Affairs – CJPMO
“What we are seeing in Gaza is one of the deadliest and most destructive military campaigns in recent history. Among other urgent responses needed, the Canadian government should end all direct military exports from Canada to Israel and take steps to ensure that Canadian companies do not supply parts for military equipment destined for Israel. It is not enough for Canada to simply pass non-binding motions and resolutions. What is needed are immediate, strong, and decisive actions.”
– Georgina Alonso, Spokesperson, Above Ground (a MakeWay project)
“We have now witnessed over 200 days of continuous violence, countless deaths, violations of law, and human rights abuses against Palestinians in Gaza. More than 2 million people are displaced and living in terrible conditions, and over half a million face imminent famine. Too many lives have been lost and continue to be lost as we watch these horrors unfold in real time. The Canadian government has an obligation to act to ensure that international humanitarian law is respected. Canada must ensure an immediate suspension of all arms export permits and arms transfers to Israel.”
– Mashaal Saeed, Media and Campaigns Lead, Islamic Relief Canada
“The Canadian government’s continued arms transfers to Israel not only result in indiscriminate violence against innocent civilians, including women and children, mass displacement, and severe famine, but they also undermine humanitarian efforts led by Canadian charities funded by Canadian donors. These weapons have been used to target and destroy critical humanitarian programs. The Canadian government must urgently comply with international humanitarian law and cease all arms transfers to Israel, whether approved after October 7 or before.”
– Mahmuda Khan, Executive Director, Human Concern International
“Canadian companies produce and export vital parts for fighter jets, warships, drones, and attack helicopters that are decimating Gaza right now. By continuing to arm Israeli forces, Canada is directly complicit and profiting from the massacre of over 14,000 Palestinian children. The Canadian government must act decisively to save Palestinian lives, and this begins with ending the arms trade between Canada and Israel. In fact, stopping the flow of arms to Israel is the bare minimum Canada should do right now. Failing to take this step makes a mockery of the government’s stated commitment to ending the violence in Gaza.”
– Rachel Small, Organizer in Canada, World BEYOND War
“Seven months have passed, and countless demonstrations, petitions, and letters have expressed Canadians’ demand to end this genocide. Yet, the Canadian government continues to shamefully allow the bilateral arms trade with Israel, despite the evident war crimes and violations of international humanitarian law. This is a situation that should never have been allowed in the first place, but it is long past time to end it to stop Canada’s complicity in these crimes.”
– Ammar Yaser, President, Palestinian Canadian Congress
Media Contact:
Mélissa Cabana
melissa.cabana@medecinsdumonde.ca | +1 514 799 8985