Canada’s Responsibility for Palestine at this Year’s G7 Summit
June 12th, 2024
As the G7 summit launches this week in Italy, Justice For All Canada is disappointed by glaring omissions thus far regarding the ongoing humanitarian crisis and Israeli-led atrocities in Gaza. Recent statements, including an acknowledgement by G7 leaders on Gaza, have fallen short in several critical areas, namely failing to sufficiently address the dire humanitarian situation and the underlying causes behind the killings and suffering of the Palestinian people.
Signed by Prime Minister Trudeau, the joint statement lacks specific condemnation of Israeli military actions and the blockade on Gaza. This unfortunate oversight ignores critical ongoing legal proceedings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and International Criminal Court (ICC), which implicate Israel for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.
The statement also failed to hold accountable Israeli leaders responsible for a disproportionate series of assaults against Palestinian civilians. While a ceasefire and humanitarian assistance were mentioned, details of extensive civilian casualties and the destruction of Gaza's infrastructure were lacking. The G7's narrative is also heavily skewed towards Israel's security concerns without equally emphasizing the rights and safety of Palestinian civilians. This imbalance perpetuates a familiar one-sided approach that fails to afford fair and equal priority for Palestinian life. Lastly, the root causes of the conflict, such as the ongoing blockade of Gaza, settlement expansion, and decades of apartheid crimes, remained unaddressed.
This is contrasted with the G7’s approach to Ukraine. On May 9-10th, Justice Ministers from the G7 countries (including Canada’s Arif Virani) held an entire “Meeting on Justice”. While the summit was largely focused on Ukraine, and even resulted in a Pledge to support the Reconstruction of Ukraine, there was sadly little mention or progress towards alleviating the suffering of thousands of Palestinians.
“Canada and the G7 must acknowledge the full humanitarian crisis in Gaza and create a realistic plan for an immediate ceasefire and sustained aid to stop the senseless killings and address the urgent needs of Gaza’s population,” said Taha Ghayyur, Executive Director.
According to a poll from Angus Reid, Canadians now see Israel's reaction to be brutal and are in support of a call for a ceasefire and humanitarian aid. Human Rights Watch has also condemned the Canadian government for failing to recognize Israeli practices as apartheid and opposing the ICC's investigation into crimes in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, urging a realistic approach that acknowledges the grave human rights abuses taking place under the Israeli military.
Prime Minister Trudeau must use this year’s G7 platform as an opportunity to rectify its failure to stand in defence of international laws, adopt a balanced and just approach, and implement recommendations from human rights groups, including;
As the G7 summit launches this week in Italy, Justice For All Canada is disappointed by glaring omissions thus far regarding the ongoing humanitarian crisis and Israeli-led atrocities in Gaza. Recent statements, including an acknowledgement by G7 leaders on Gaza, have fallen short in several critical areas, namely failing to sufficiently address the dire humanitarian situation and the underlying causes behind the killings and suffering of the Palestinian people.
Signed by Prime Minister Trudeau, the joint statement lacks specific condemnation of Israeli military actions and the blockade on Gaza. This unfortunate oversight ignores critical ongoing legal proceedings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and International Criminal Court (ICC), which implicate Israel for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.
The statement also failed to hold accountable Israeli leaders responsible for a disproportionate series of assaults against Palestinian civilians. While a ceasefire and humanitarian assistance were mentioned, details of extensive civilian casualties and the destruction of Gaza's infrastructure were lacking. The G7's narrative is also heavily skewed towards Israel's security concerns without equally emphasizing the rights and safety of Palestinian civilians. This imbalance perpetuates a familiar one-sided approach that fails to afford fair and equal priority for Palestinian life. Lastly, the root causes of the conflict, such as the ongoing blockade of Gaza, settlement expansion, and decades of apartheid crimes, remained unaddressed.
This is contrasted with the G7’s approach to Ukraine. On May 9-10th, Justice Ministers from the G7 countries (including Canada’s Arif Virani) held an entire “Meeting on Justice”. While the summit was largely focused on Ukraine, and even resulted in a Pledge to support the Reconstruction of Ukraine, there was sadly little mention or progress towards alleviating the suffering of thousands of Palestinians.
“Canada and the G7 must acknowledge the full humanitarian crisis in Gaza and create a realistic plan for an immediate ceasefire and sustained aid to stop the senseless killings and address the urgent needs of Gaza’s population,” said Taha Ghayyur, Executive Director.
According to a poll from Angus Reid, Canadians now see Israel's reaction to be brutal and are in support of a call for a ceasefire and humanitarian aid. Human Rights Watch has also condemned the Canadian government for failing to recognize Israeli practices as apartheid and opposing the ICC's investigation into crimes in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, urging a realistic approach that acknowledges the grave human rights abuses taking place under the Israeli military.
Prime Minister Trudeau must use this year’s G7 platform as an opportunity to rectify its failure to stand in defence of international laws, adopt a balanced and just approach, and implement recommendations from human rights groups, including;
- International Cooperation and Multilateral Efforts: G7 states can initiate a multilateral approach to resolving the conflict, rather than bilateral agreements that often exacerbate inequalities. This includes supporting projects like the Arab Peace Initiative and fostering comprehensive dialogues prioritizing the rights and security of Palestinians as is already being done for Israelis.
- Urging Immediate Ceasefire and Humanitarian Aid: G7 leaders must pursue a comprehensive ceasefire and unrestricted humanitarian action plan for Gaza, including halting arms transfers and financial support to the Israeli government to prevent further killings and violations of international humanitarian law.
- Ending the Blockade and Collective Punishment: The G7 must support demands from the UN Human Rights Council for Israel to lift its blockade on Gaza, which is a form of collective punishment prohibited under international law
- Accountability for Human Rights Violations: The G7 is an opportunity for leaders to endorse calls from Human Rights Watch and other organizations which urge for robust accountability mechanisms to address Israeli systematic human rights abuses in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including supporting investigations by the ICJ and ICC and ensuring that those responsible for war crimes are held accountable.
- Ending the Occupation and Oppression: G7 leaders must condemn violations of international law by the Israeli government, ensure equal emphasis on the security and human rights of Palestinians, and stress the need for Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian territories, which has led to systemic discrimination and human rights violations and apartheid. This includes halting settlement expansions, illegal under international law, and ensuring Palestinians' rights to self-determination and equal treatment.