e-4940 (Foreign affairs)

The Government of Canada shares the shock and horror felt across Canada – and around the world – at the brutal and unthinkable terrorist attacks by Hamas against Israeli civilians on October 7, 2023. The Government also recognizes the devastating toll faced by Palestinians as a result of the ensuing conflict. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The tragic loss of civilian lives – particularly women and children – is heartbreaking. The Minister of Foreign Affairs has been clear: too many Palestinian civilians have been killed; international law must be respected; civilians must be protected. The violence must stop.

As the Minister of Foreign Affairs has outlined, Canada’s long-standing position is ultimately rooted three key principles: that Israel has a right to exist and by extension defend itself, in accordance with international humanitarian law; that protection of civilians is paramount; and that the Palestinian people have a right to self-determination.

This is why Canada has been calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire for many months. This is needed urgently, and it must not be one-sided. Hamas – a listed terrorist organization – must lay down its arms and release all hostages. Rapid, safe, and unimpeded access for humanitarian relief must be provided; the need for this assistance has never been greater.

A sustainable ceasefire is a necessary path to towards securing lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians, and why the Government has remained committed to working towards an irreversible path to achieving a two-state solution, where Israelis and Palestinians can live securely within internationally recognised borders. This is the only realistic option to achieve a just and enduring peace.

It is clear we must urgently build a credible path to achieving the two-state solution, one that gives hope to both Palestinians and Israelis that they may live side by side in peace, security, and dignity. That process cannot indefinitely delay the creation of a Palestinian state. Canada is prepared to recognize the State of Palestine at the time most conducive to lasting peace, not necessarily as the last step along that path.

Canada does not recognize permanent Israeli control over territories occupied in 1967 (the Golan Heights, the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip). As referred to in United Nations Security Council Resolutions 446 and 465, Israeli settlements in the occupied territories are a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention. Canada continues to oppose the expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem and is committed to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East.

Furthermore, Canada remains deeply concerned by extremist settler violence in the West Bank and condemn such acts, not only for the significant impact they have on Palestinian lives, but also for the corrosive impact they have on prospects for lasting peace. We call on authorities to ensure the protection of civilians and hold perpetrators of such violence accountable. Along with our partners, Canada continues to call on the Israeli government to take immediate action to stop such further occurrences of extremist settler violence, and to uphold Israel’s obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention protect the Palestinian population and hold those responsible for the violence accountable under the law.

This is why Canada has also announced two rounds of sanctions against the perpetrators of this violence. The first round was imposed in May 2024, and the second in June 2024, targeting a total of eleven individuals and five entities.

Sanctions are an important complement to Canada’s foreign policy tools, which include dialogue, capacity building, advocacy, multilateral engagement, and other diplomatic actions. Canada is judicious in its approach to imposing sanction and rigorously evaluates the particular circumstances at hand, as well as broader political and international contexts, before deciding whether sanctions or any other tools in Canada’s foreign policy toolbox may be an appropriate response.