Canada's Responsibility to Preventing Genocide in Gaza Under New Adopted UN Resolution
April 5th, 2024
Justice For All Canada welcomes today’s United Nations Human Rights Council resolution calling for Israeli accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip.
During the 55th session of the Human Rights Council on April 5th, 2024, the UN's top human rights body took a crucial step in addressing the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza by passing a resolution urging an immediate halt to weapons shipments to Israel. This resolution reflects the growing international concern about the escalating targeted violence and egregious rights violations against Palestinians.
Recent reports have detailed the alarming use of specific weaponry by Israel in Gaza, such as Elbit Systems drones and Rafael Spike missiles. The use of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare, also denounced in the resolution, is an abhorrent action which Canada must unequivocally condemn.
“The ICJ ruling affirming the risk of genocide in Gaza, alongside this UNHRC resolution, reaffirms Canada's obligation to prevent genocide as mandated by international law,” said Taha Ghayyur, Executive Director of Justice For All Canada. “As a signatory to the Genocide Convention, Canada must heed these calls for urgent action and take all necessary measures to prevent atrocities and safeguard civilian lives,” added Ghayyur.
The UN resolution placed significant emphasis on Israeli cooperation with investigations, provision of humanitarian access and accountability. The demand to halt all arms sales to Israel is a crucial recognition of the role that weapons play in exacerbating the genocide and contributing to civilian casualties.
Canada's weak stance on arms exports to Israel and its decision to exclude existing permits from the embargo raises concerns about the government's commitment to the principles outlined in Parliament’s motion adopted on March 18. Arms permits worth millions that existed before Canada’s recent “arms embargo” on Israel are still in effect. These weapons and weapons parts are being used in targeted killings and airstrikes causing civilian killings and casualties in Gaza. This makes Canada complicit in the violence and human rights violations Israel is perpetrating in Gaza.
This week, Israel targeted and killed 7 international and Palestinian aid workers in Gaza (including a Canadian), as well as the horrifying impact of the Israeli military's murderous siege on Al Shifa Hospital. With international criticism of Israel's actions on the rise, Canadian officials must stop all military trade with Israel and hold Israeli officials accountable for grave atrocities against Palestinian civilians.
With notes from Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) & Canadian Union of Postal Workers.
Justice For All Canada welcomes today’s United Nations Human Rights Council resolution calling for Israeli accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip.
During the 55th session of the Human Rights Council on April 5th, 2024, the UN's top human rights body took a crucial step in addressing the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza by passing a resolution urging an immediate halt to weapons shipments to Israel. This resolution reflects the growing international concern about the escalating targeted violence and egregious rights violations against Palestinians.
Recent reports have detailed the alarming use of specific weaponry by Israel in Gaza, such as Elbit Systems drones and Rafael Spike missiles. The use of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare, also denounced in the resolution, is an abhorrent action which Canada must unequivocally condemn.
“The ICJ ruling affirming the risk of genocide in Gaza, alongside this UNHRC resolution, reaffirms Canada's obligation to prevent genocide as mandated by international law,” said Taha Ghayyur, Executive Director of Justice For All Canada. “As a signatory to the Genocide Convention, Canada must heed these calls for urgent action and take all necessary measures to prevent atrocities and safeguard civilian lives,” added Ghayyur.
The UN resolution placed significant emphasis on Israeli cooperation with investigations, provision of humanitarian access and accountability. The demand to halt all arms sales to Israel is a crucial recognition of the role that weapons play in exacerbating the genocide and contributing to civilian casualties.
Canada's weak stance on arms exports to Israel and its decision to exclude existing permits from the embargo raises concerns about the government's commitment to the principles outlined in Parliament’s motion adopted on March 18. Arms permits worth millions that existed before Canada’s recent “arms embargo” on Israel are still in effect. These weapons and weapons parts are being used in targeted killings and airstrikes causing civilian killings and casualties in Gaza. This makes Canada complicit in the violence and human rights violations Israel is perpetrating in Gaza.
This week, Israel targeted and killed 7 international and Palestinian aid workers in Gaza (including a Canadian), as well as the horrifying impact of the Israeli military's murderous siege on Al Shifa Hospital. With international criticism of Israel's actions on the rise, Canadian officials must stop all military trade with Israel and hold Israeli officials accountable for grave atrocities against Palestinian civilians.
With notes from Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) & Canadian Union of Postal Workers.