|
Israeli Abuses in Occupied Palestine: Report Card |
How We Graded Parties
Using a strictly non-partisan approach, this report card evaluates the positions and actions of Canada’s five main federal political parties across five key areas:
Grades were based on verifiable actions since October 7, 2023, with key context drawn from prior years. Sources included parliamentary motions and votes, official party statements, interviews, government records, media coverage and past platform commitments. Where applicable, we also considered silence or absence of position in the face of major developments. Each sub-issue was graded individually and then averaged to determine an overall score. Greater weight was given to concrete action over rhetoric, especially in areas with legal or humanitarian urgency such as arms transfers, ceasefire demands and international legal developments.
This report card is not exhaustive. It reflects our best efforts to offer a clear, principled summary that voters and organizers can use to hold elected officials accountable on the expansive issue of Israeli violations of international law. We welcome further additions and corrections, and see this as a living tool in the broader fight for peace and accountability for Occupied Palestine.
- Recognition of Palestinian statehood
- Position on Israeli settlements and occupation
- Military trade and arms exports to Israel
- Calls for ceasefire and international accountability
- Humanitarian support for Palestinians, especially in Gaza
Grades were based on verifiable actions since October 7, 2023, with key context drawn from prior years. Sources included parliamentary motions and votes, official party statements, interviews, government records, media coverage and past platform commitments. Where applicable, we also considered silence or absence of position in the face of major developments. Each sub-issue was graded individually and then averaged to determine an overall score. Greater weight was given to concrete action over rhetoric, especially in areas with legal or humanitarian urgency such as arms transfers, ceasefire demands and international legal developments.
This report card is not exhaustive. It reflects our best efforts to offer a clear, principled summary that voters and organizers can use to hold elected officials accountable on the expansive issue of Israeli violations of international law. We welcome further additions and corrections, and see this as a living tool in the broader fight for peace and accountability for Occupied Palestine.
Context and Additional Analysis
Liberal Party: The Liberal government made some visible shifts in 2024, especially at the UN. After years of abstaining, they voted in favour of several Palestine resolutions, including one that reaffirmed Palestinians’ right to self-determination. But that gesture was undercut when Canada abstained from a December 2024 UN General Assembly vote seeking an ICJ advisory opinion on Israel’s starvation policies in Gaza. They also stayed silent on South Africa’s genocide case at the ICJ. On arms sales, the Liberals announced they would stop approving new military export permits to Israel. But they allowed most previously approved shipments to go ahead, even during the most intense bombing campaigns. This could include shipping surveillance equipment, parts for drones and components tied to the F-35 program. They also launched a humanitarian visa program to reunite Gaza families, but it’s been a bureaucratic nightmare. As of early 2025, fewer than 600 people actually made it to Canada. The process has been confusing, slow, and nearly impossible to navigate, especially for Palestinians under siege. Meanwhile, government officials continue to use vague language like “deeply concerned” while defending Israel’s actions as “self-defence,” even in the face of overwhelming civilian killings. There’s been no clear line drawn around war crimes, no firm condemnation of mass displacement, and no serious pressure applied to stop the killing.
Conservative Party: The Conservatives have made their position very clear: they stand with Israel no matter what. Since October 2023, they’ve consistently rejected calls for a ceasefire and opposed any effort to restrict military trade. They’ve framed almost every conversation about Palestine as a threat to Israel’s security, using language that erases Palestinian suffering and dismisses any international legal arguments outright. When asked about the humanitarian situation, their response has been to double down on Israel’s defence, ignoring the tens of thousands of civilians killed and the documented use of collective punishment. They voted against motions calling for an arms embargo, refused to support investigations into war crimes, and have even suggested that the ICJ case is politically motivated. Conservative MPs have also used dangerous rhetoric to paint critics of Israel as antisemitic or extremist. They’ve actively undermined those calling for accountability, including human rights organizations and diaspora communities. Despite all of this, they did support some humanitarian aid packages but always carefully separated that from any political pressure on Israel. Their record shows a clear pattern: full backing for Israel, little regard for international law and zero accountability for mass violence.
New Democratic Party (NDP): The NDP has been the most consistent and vocal in pushing for a ceasefire, an arms embargo and real accountability. MP Heather McPherson’s motion in March 2024 was one of the first serious efforts in Parliament to reconcile Canada’s policies to the genocide unfolding in Gaza. The NDP has repeatedly called out the Liberal government’s double standard of loosely condemning the violence while still allowing the flow of military transfers. They have been willing to say that Canada’s policies are contributing to Palestinian suffering. They supported all the key UN resolutions on Palestinian rights, and they’ve been clear in their support for the ICJ case and the ICC investigation. NDP MPs have raised these issues both in Parliament and with community members and in media interviews. The NDP also pushed for stronger humanitarian pathways, called out the failures in Canada’s visa program, and questioned the government’s continued trade with Israeli settlements. MP Jagmeet Singh has faced backlash from lobby groups and political opponents for the party’s stance, but they’ve held their ground. While their approach hasn’t been perfect, they’ve shown real leadership compared to the other major parties.
Bloc Québécois: The Bloc supported the major UN resolutions on Palestinian rights and has called for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. They also backed the ICJ advisory opinion process and supported the March 2024 motion calling for an arms embargo. Their MPs have spoken out about the humanitarian disaster and called on the federal government to uphold international law. But their role has mostly been supportive, not leading. They haven’t used their platform to amplify grassroots demands or introduce new initiatives on Palestine. Their criticism of Israeli actions has been framed more as a general concern with international norms, rather than a direct condemnation of mass killing or displacement. Their votes have still aligned with the most progressive positions on this issue.
Green Party: In December 2023, MP Elizabeth May and MP Mike Morrice introduced a motion in Parliament calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, restoration of UNRWA funding and a full arms embargo on Israel. Outside Parliament, the Greens have publicly supported the ICJ’s genocide case filed by South Africa. Greens also condemned the bombing of civilian infrastructure and called for Canada to uphold its obligations under the Genocide Convention. Additionally, Greens have raised concerns about the use of Canadian weapons components in F-35 jets sold to Israel. On the humanitarian side, while smaller in profile, the party has voiced support for increasing direct aid to Gaza and reforming Canada’s stalled humanitarian visa program.
Conservative Party: The Conservatives have made their position very clear: they stand with Israel no matter what. Since October 2023, they’ve consistently rejected calls for a ceasefire and opposed any effort to restrict military trade. They’ve framed almost every conversation about Palestine as a threat to Israel’s security, using language that erases Palestinian suffering and dismisses any international legal arguments outright. When asked about the humanitarian situation, their response has been to double down on Israel’s defence, ignoring the tens of thousands of civilians killed and the documented use of collective punishment. They voted against motions calling for an arms embargo, refused to support investigations into war crimes, and have even suggested that the ICJ case is politically motivated. Conservative MPs have also used dangerous rhetoric to paint critics of Israel as antisemitic or extremist. They’ve actively undermined those calling for accountability, including human rights organizations and diaspora communities. Despite all of this, they did support some humanitarian aid packages but always carefully separated that from any political pressure on Israel. Their record shows a clear pattern: full backing for Israel, little regard for international law and zero accountability for mass violence.
New Democratic Party (NDP): The NDP has been the most consistent and vocal in pushing for a ceasefire, an arms embargo and real accountability. MP Heather McPherson’s motion in March 2024 was one of the first serious efforts in Parliament to reconcile Canada’s policies to the genocide unfolding in Gaza. The NDP has repeatedly called out the Liberal government’s double standard of loosely condemning the violence while still allowing the flow of military transfers. They have been willing to say that Canada’s policies are contributing to Palestinian suffering. They supported all the key UN resolutions on Palestinian rights, and they’ve been clear in their support for the ICJ case and the ICC investigation. NDP MPs have raised these issues both in Parliament and with community members and in media interviews. The NDP also pushed for stronger humanitarian pathways, called out the failures in Canada’s visa program, and questioned the government’s continued trade with Israeli settlements. MP Jagmeet Singh has faced backlash from lobby groups and political opponents for the party’s stance, but they’ve held their ground. While their approach hasn’t been perfect, they’ve shown real leadership compared to the other major parties.
Bloc Québécois: The Bloc supported the major UN resolutions on Palestinian rights and has called for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. They also backed the ICJ advisory opinion process and supported the March 2024 motion calling for an arms embargo. Their MPs have spoken out about the humanitarian disaster and called on the federal government to uphold international law. But their role has mostly been supportive, not leading. They haven’t used their platform to amplify grassroots demands or introduce new initiatives on Palestine. Their criticism of Israeli actions has been framed more as a general concern with international norms, rather than a direct condemnation of mass killing or displacement. Their votes have still aligned with the most progressive positions on this issue.
Green Party: In December 2023, MP Elizabeth May and MP Mike Morrice introduced a motion in Parliament calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, restoration of UNRWA funding and a full arms embargo on Israel. Outside Parliament, the Greens have publicly supported the ICJ’s genocide case filed by South Africa. Greens also condemned the bombing of civilian infrastructure and called for Canada to uphold its obligations under the Genocide Convention. Additionally, Greens have raised concerns about the use of Canadian weapons components in F-35 jets sold to Israel. On the humanitarian side, while smaller in profile, the party has voiced support for increasing direct aid to Gaza and reforming Canada’s stalled humanitarian visa program.