Canadian Government Must Acknowledge UN Commission Report on Gaza
September 22, 2025
Justice For All Canada strongly supports the findings of the United Nations Independent Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory (the “Commission”) that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. We endorse their call for all states, including Canada, to adhere to their legal obligation to halt the genocide and punish those responsible. The Commission has released this extensive report after two years of investigation, gathering primary evidence and analyzing it in light of the 1948 Genocide Convention. Coming from an official U.N. Commission of Inquiry makes this report one of the most authoritative genocide determinations to date.
The Commission found the following acts to have been committed by the Israeli authorities and military, contrary to the genocide convention:
The crime of genocide requires intent to destroy a group in whole or in part. On this point, the Commission found that the widespread operations in Gaza by the Israeli military as well as explicit statements made by authorities that dehumanized, and encouraged hatred and violence towards, Palestinians revealed this intent.
In a recent interview, Commissioner Sidoti underlined what makes Gaza distinct from other conflicts - Palestinians’ inability to flee to neighbouring countries. Palestinians in Gaza face slaughter without refuge. The Commission rejected the Israeli claim that evacuation orders prove civilians were protected; in reality, evacuation routes became death traps. People were targeted as they fled, proving the intent was extermination and not defence.
The Commission also rejected claims of bias. They affirmed that their report is grounded in evidence from primary sources, such as testimony from foreign medical workers in Gaza and satellite technology. Their findings reiterate those from organisations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and B’Tselem, who have already described Israel’s conduct as genocide.
Justice For All Canada calls upon Prime Minister Mark Carney to acknowledge the U.N. Commission’s conclusion and call it genocide.
Canada is a founding member of the United Nations and a signatory to the Genocide Convention. The commissioners pointed out that the International Court of Justice’s initial determination that a genocide in Gaza is plausible was issued in January 2024 - almost two years ago. States need not wait until the court’s final genocide determination, a trial that could take years. States must act to adhere to their international obligations to halt and punish genocide, otherwise the obligation is essentially meaningless.
Canada cannot deny the overwhelming evidence detailed in the report while claiming commitment to international law. The government must endorse the Commission’s official recognition and their call to the world community. Canada must act now and call it genocide.
Justice For All Canada is a human rights organization accredited by the United Nations, focused on Muslim minority issues and anti-genocide advocacy.
Justice For All Canada strongly supports the findings of the United Nations Independent Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory (the “Commission”) that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. We endorse their call for all states, including Canada, to adhere to their legal obligation to halt the genocide and punish those responsible. The Commission has released this extensive report after two years of investigation, gathering primary evidence and analyzing it in light of the 1948 Genocide Convention. Coming from an official U.N. Commission of Inquiry makes this report one of the most authoritative genocide determinations to date.
The Commission found the following acts to have been committed by the Israeli authorities and military, contrary to the genocide convention:
- Killing Palestinians.
- Causing Palestinians serious bodily or mental harm.
- Deliberately inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about the destruction of Palestinians, in whole or in part.
- Imposing measures intended to prevent Palestinian births.
The crime of genocide requires intent to destroy a group in whole or in part. On this point, the Commission found that the widespread operations in Gaza by the Israeli military as well as explicit statements made by authorities that dehumanized, and encouraged hatred and violence towards, Palestinians revealed this intent.
In a recent interview, Commissioner Sidoti underlined what makes Gaza distinct from other conflicts - Palestinians’ inability to flee to neighbouring countries. Palestinians in Gaza face slaughter without refuge. The Commission rejected the Israeli claim that evacuation orders prove civilians were protected; in reality, evacuation routes became death traps. People were targeted as they fled, proving the intent was extermination and not defence.
The Commission also rejected claims of bias. They affirmed that their report is grounded in evidence from primary sources, such as testimony from foreign medical workers in Gaza and satellite technology. Their findings reiterate those from organisations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and B’Tselem, who have already described Israel’s conduct as genocide.
Justice For All Canada calls upon Prime Minister Mark Carney to acknowledge the U.N. Commission’s conclusion and call it genocide.
Canada is a founding member of the United Nations and a signatory to the Genocide Convention. The commissioners pointed out that the International Court of Justice’s initial determination that a genocide in Gaza is plausible was issued in January 2024 - almost two years ago. States need not wait until the court’s final genocide determination, a trial that could take years. States must act to adhere to their international obligations to halt and punish genocide, otherwise the obligation is essentially meaningless.
Canada cannot deny the overwhelming evidence detailed in the report while claiming commitment to international law. The government must endorse the Commission’s official recognition and their call to the world community. Canada must act now and call it genocide.
Justice For All Canada is a human rights organization accredited by the United Nations, focused on Muslim minority issues and anti-genocide advocacy.