November 16 Day of Action: Canada Complicity in War Crimes Through F-35 Production Must End
November 15th, 2024
On the eve of the National Day of Action Against F-35 Exports to Israel, Justice For All Canada joins a coalition of human rights groups calling for immediate accountability for Canada’s role in fuelling atrocities in Gaza and Lebanon.
According to credible reports, over 100 Canadian companies are manufacturing critical components for Lockheed Martin’s F-35 fighter jets. These components are being used by the Israeli Air Force to bomb residential neighbourhoods, hospitals, and refugee camps in Gaza and southern Lebanon, causing catastrophic civilian casualties and unprecedented destruction. We condemn this egregious violation of international humanitarian law, including Canada’s own commitments under the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).
Canadian facilities such as Magellan Aerospace in Winnipeg, Gastops in Ottawa, and Stelia Aerospace in Lunenburg, have become essential contributors to the F-35 supply chain. As documented by credible sources, these companies produce key components enabling the F-35 to drop 2000lb GBU-31 JDAM bombs, used in attacks that have killed tens of thousands of Palestinian and Lebanese civilians. Some of these Canadian-made components are identified as horizontal tail assemblies, engine sensors, and shims for weapons bay doors.
Despite Canada’s claim that no “lethal” arms permits to Israel are currently active, components exported under loopholes are assembled into fully operational F-35 jets. “The distinction between 'lethal' and 'non-lethal' arms lacks credibility in the context of modern supply chains, and is a false dichotomy ignoring the interconnected nature of warfare, where every component—regardless of classification—contributes directly to the machinery of senseless death and destruction,” expressed Taha Ghayyur, Executive Director. Sadly, the Government of Canada is increasingly implicated in Israel’s atrocities.
Touted as the most “advanced warplane in existence”, the F-35 is designed to evade detection and maximize destruction. Israel’s fleet of 75 F-35 jets has been integral to its near-total aerial domination of Gaza and Lebanon, killing over 41,000 civilians and displacing millions in the past year alone.
As a ratifying country of the ATT, arms transfers must be prohibited where they are likely to contribute to serious violations of international humanitarian law. These obligations are further enshrined in Canada’s own Export and Import Permits Act, which includes prohibitions on the transfer of military goods if there is a substantial risk that the items would: a) undermine peace and security, b) could be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian and human rights laws, or c) could be used in serious acts of violence against women and children. Furthermore, the "Export and Brokering Controls Handbook" from Global Affairs Canada reiterates this prohibition, stating that export permits will be denied if there is a significant risk the equipment could be used to commit or facilitate such violations. Supported by Canada, the continued devastation exposes the government’s failure to uphold mandated legal and moral obligations to halt arms transfers when there is a substantial risk of misuse.
Canada must be obligated to follow these rules. This complicity must end.
We call on the Canadian government to:
Grassroots Resistance: November 16th Day of Action #ArmsEmbargoNow
On Saturday, November 16th, 2024, as part of the #ArmsEmbargoNow campaign, Canadians across 15 cities will take action against companies profiting from the F-35 program. Demonstrations will target nationwide facilities to expose their role in sustaining Israel’s war machine creating oppression and mass violence. We urge all Canadians to join tomorrow’s actions and demand an end to Canada’s participation in war crimes through the F-35 supply chain. Let us make it clear: Canada’s role in manufacturing and exporting tools of destruction is unacceptable.
For more information, visit https://armsembargonow.ca/f35/
Works Cited
On the eve of the National Day of Action Against F-35 Exports to Israel, Justice For All Canada joins a coalition of human rights groups calling for immediate accountability for Canada’s role in fuelling atrocities in Gaza and Lebanon.
According to credible reports, over 100 Canadian companies are manufacturing critical components for Lockheed Martin’s F-35 fighter jets. These components are being used by the Israeli Air Force to bomb residential neighbourhoods, hospitals, and refugee camps in Gaza and southern Lebanon, causing catastrophic civilian casualties and unprecedented destruction. We condemn this egregious violation of international humanitarian law, including Canada’s own commitments under the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).
Canadian facilities such as Magellan Aerospace in Winnipeg, Gastops in Ottawa, and Stelia Aerospace in Lunenburg, have become essential contributors to the F-35 supply chain. As documented by credible sources, these companies produce key components enabling the F-35 to drop 2000lb GBU-31 JDAM bombs, used in attacks that have killed tens of thousands of Palestinian and Lebanese civilians. Some of these Canadian-made components are identified as horizontal tail assemblies, engine sensors, and shims for weapons bay doors.
Despite Canada’s claim that no “lethal” arms permits to Israel are currently active, components exported under loopholes are assembled into fully operational F-35 jets. “The distinction between 'lethal' and 'non-lethal' arms lacks credibility in the context of modern supply chains, and is a false dichotomy ignoring the interconnected nature of warfare, where every component—regardless of classification—contributes directly to the machinery of senseless death and destruction,” expressed Taha Ghayyur, Executive Director. Sadly, the Government of Canada is increasingly implicated in Israel’s atrocities.
Touted as the most “advanced warplane in existence”, the F-35 is designed to evade detection and maximize destruction. Israel’s fleet of 75 F-35 jets has been integral to its near-total aerial domination of Gaza and Lebanon, killing over 41,000 civilians and displacing millions in the past year alone.
As a ratifying country of the ATT, arms transfers must be prohibited where they are likely to contribute to serious violations of international humanitarian law. These obligations are further enshrined in Canada’s own Export and Import Permits Act, which includes prohibitions on the transfer of military goods if there is a substantial risk that the items would: a) undermine peace and security, b) could be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian and human rights laws, or c) could be used in serious acts of violence against women and children. Furthermore, the "Export and Brokering Controls Handbook" from Global Affairs Canada reiterates this prohibition, stating that export permits will be denied if there is a significant risk the equipment could be used to commit or facilitate such violations. Supported by Canada, the continued devastation exposes the government’s failure to uphold mandated legal and moral obligations to halt arms transfers when there is a substantial risk of misuse.
Canada must be obligated to follow these rules. This complicity must end.
We call on the Canadian government to:
- Implement a complete “three-way” arms embargo on Israel, halting all exports, imports, and unregulated transfers of military goods to Israel through the US.
- Cancel all active contracts for F-35-related production and divert public funding from weapons manufacturing to peace-building initiatives.
- Fully investigate Canadian companies profiting from the F-35 program and their role in violations of international law.
Grassroots Resistance: November 16th Day of Action #ArmsEmbargoNow
On Saturday, November 16th, 2024, as part of the #ArmsEmbargoNow campaign, Canadians across 15 cities will take action against companies profiting from the F-35 program. Demonstrations will target nationwide facilities to expose their role in sustaining Israel’s war machine creating oppression and mass violence. We urge all Canadians to join tomorrow’s actions and demand an end to Canada’s participation in war crimes through the F-35 supply chain. Let us make it clear: Canada’s role in manufacturing and exporting tools of destruction is unacceptable.
For more information, visit https://armsembargonow.ca/f35/
Works Cited
- Akkad, Dania. "Legal Battles Loom Over Supply Chain Keeping Israeli F-35s Flying Over Gaza and Lebanon." Middle East Eye, 4 October 2024. https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-US-f-35-global-supply-legal-spare-parts.
- Global Affairs Canada. Export and Brokering Controls Handbook. https://www.international.gc.ca/trade-commerce/controls-controles/reports-rapports/ebc_handbook-cce_manuel.aspx?lang=eng.
- International Committee of the Red Cross. "Arms Trade Treaty, Article 6 - Prohibitions." IHL Databases. https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/ihl-treaties/att-2013/article-6.
- Patterson, Brent. "As the US Moves Ahead with $3 Billion Sale of F-35s to Israel, Canada Continues to Supply Key Parts for These Bombers." Peace Brigades International – Canada, 28 March 2024. https://pbicanada.org/2024/03/28/as-the-us-moves-ahead-with-3-billion-sale-of-f-35s-to-israel-canada-continues-to-supply-key-parts-for-these-bombers/.
- United Nations. The Arms Trade Treaty. 2013. https://thearmstradetreaty.org/hyper-images/file/ATT_English/ATT_English.pdf?templateId=137253.
- Wilt, James. "Winnipeg Plant One of Largest F-35 Parts Producers in Canada: Magellan Aerospace Builds the Horizontal Tail Assemblies for the Controversial Aircraft." Canadian Dimension, 15 November 2024. https://canadiandimension.com/articles/view/winnipeg-plant-one-of-largest-f-35-parts-producers-in-canada.