The signatories are addressing Canada\u2019s Minister of Foreign Affairs, M\u00e9lanie Joly.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":4999,"template":"","actualite_type":[10],"actualite_sujet":[],"action_combat":[],"mdm_pays":[],"class_list":["post-4998","actualite","type-actualite","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","actualite_type-international-actions"],"acf":{"mise_en_avant":false,"chapeau":"The signatories are addressing Canada\u2019s Minister of Foreign Affairs, M\u00e9lanie Joly.","cta_type":"aucun","cta_lien":"","contenu":"
Madam,
The signatories of this letter are among the sixty civil society organizations that jointly wrote to you last February to request the cessation of arms exports to Israel, in accordance with Canada's international and national obligations regarding arms control.<\/p>\n
In the context of the current conflict in Gaza, we welcome the House of Commons' adoption of the non-binding motion of March 18 calling on Canada to halt arms transfers to Israel. However, we wish to express our deep concern regarding the implementation of this policy, which would be limited to suspending the approval of future arms export licenses to Israel and would not apply to previously approved arms transfers.<\/p>\n
The motion explicitly calls on the Canadian government to cease both future export authorizations and previously approved transfers, as both pose a substantial risk of leading to serious human rights violations.<\/p>\n
To ensure that previously authorized Canadian arms exports, including those from the first two months of the conflict totaling nearly 30 million dollars, do not contribute to such abuses, we urgently call on the government to fully implement all measures approved under the March 18 motion and to cease all arms transfers to Israel.<\/p>\n
After seven months of fighting that has resulted in nearly 35,000 deaths, many of them women and children, as well as 78,000 injured, it is more important than ever to respond to the United Nations Security Council's call for a ceasefire in Gaza. Canada has an obligation to uphold the Security Council resolution, which is binding on all UN member states under Article 25 of the UN Charter. A complete halt to arms transfers to the parties involved in the conflict, including Israel, would be a significant step toward creating the conditions for a ceasefire in the current conflict.
<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, Canadian civil society and the public have had to rely on the media to understand the scope of the policy suspending new arms export permits to Israel. Given the gravity of the situation in Gaza, greater transparency is essential. We call on Global Affairs Canada to clarify the scope of this policy as soon as possible in a notice to exporters and to make this document publicly accessible online.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, there is no indication that the policy will cover the transfer of Canadian military components to Israel via the United States, a practice that is neither regulated nor reported.<\/p>\n
For example, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, produced in the United States and used by Israel throughout its bombing campaign in Gaza, includes parts manufactured in Canada; this practice will continue under the currently proposed policy. Israeli airstrikes have caused a significant number of civilian deaths and serious injuries and, notably, resulted in the death of a Canadian humanitarian worker on April 1, 2024, in addition to the over 250 humanitarian workers killed since the start of the conflict.<\/p>\n
The Israeli military offensive shows few signs of slowing despite growing international pressure and widespread consternation over the unfolding catastrophe in Gaza. Humanitarian observers have long feared a ground offensive in the city of Rafah, an operation now launched by Israeli forces, which will only increase the civilian death toll. Such actions further underscore the need for Canada to completely halt its arms transfers to Israel, or risk contributing to this humanitarian crisis.<\/p>\n
Madam Minister, while we welcome the adoption of the motion and the suspension of new arms export authorizations to Israel, we urgently call on your government to extend this policy to all transfers of military equipment to Israel, including those whose export was approved before January 8, 2024. In the current circumstances, which include a risk of genocide as established by the International Court of Justice, serious violations of international humanitarian law, including the use of starvation as a method of warfare and attacks on humanitarian personnel, continuing to transfer military equipment to Israel is unacceptable to many Canadians.<\/p>\n
The suspension of all transfers would be consistent with Canada's stated support for a ceasefire and would ensure compliance with Canada's arms control regime.<\/p>\n