441-02582 (Foreign affairs)
- Keywords
- Foreign policy
- International conflict and international conflict resolution
- Israel
- Palestine
Original language of petition: English
PETITION TO THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA
We, the undersigned citizens of Waterloo Region, call upon the House of Commons to:
- Call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire which would include the release of all hostages and political prisoners;
- Immediately place an embargo on the provision of munitions and weaponry to Israel, directly or through any other country or countries;
- Continue funding to UNWRA as there is no evidence of claims of wrongdoing by UNWRA thereby allowing the immediate much-needed flow of food, water, aid and humanitarian assistance;
- Recognize the Israeli blockade and continued armed attacks by Israel on the innocent citizens of Gaza, as Genocide within the meaning of the Genocide Convention which Canada signed;
- Work toward Palestinian statehood;
- Put an end to end the military occupation of Palestinian land; and
- Support the work of the ICJ and the International Criminal Court.
Response by the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Signed by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): Rob Oliphant
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 human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue. The tragic loss of civilian lives – particularly women and children – is heartbreaking. The Minister of Foreign Affairs has been clear: too many Palestinian civilians people have been killed; international law must be respected; civilians must be protected. The violence must stop. Israel must listen to the concerns of the international community. The protection of civilians is paramount and a requirement under international humanitarian law. Palestinian civilians cannot be made to pay the price of defeating Hamas. It must end.
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.
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.
A sustainable ceasefire is a necessary path to towards securing lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians, and why the Government has remained committed to its long-standing goal of a two-state solution, including the creation of a Palestinian state, where Palestinians and Israelis live side by side in peace, security, and dignity.
Canada remains committed to full compliance with its export control regime, which is one of the most rigorous in the world. Canada’s accession to the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) in 2019 has further strengthened this approach.
Permit applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis as part of a robust risk assessment, including against ATT criteria. Permits to export controlled goods and technology from Canada will not be issued if there is a substantial risk that they could be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of International Human Rights or Humanitarian Law. Furthermore, all controlled goods exported from Canada through the United States to a third country (i.e. transit/transshipment) require a Canadian export permit for the third country when they leave Canada.
All permits issued for the export of military goods and technologies destined to Israel between October 7, 2023, and January 8, 2024 – as well as all previously approved permits which remain in effect – are for non-lethal items. The government has not approved any new permits since January 8, 2024.
Canada is one of the world’s largest donors of assistance to address the current crisis. To date, Canada has announced $165 million in international assistance to address the urgent needs of vulnerable civilians in this crisis, including a matching fund of $13.7 million. Recognizing the critical role played by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in providing experience, infrastructure, and logistical capabilities to support other aid organizations, as well as the critical humanitarian situation in Gaza, Canada also showed leadership in becoming the first country to resume its funding on March 8, 2024. Canada will continue to work with fellow donors, the UN, and UNRWA to ensure that all recommendations relating to strengthening oversight, accountability, and transparency are fully implemented; a zero-tolerance policy against terrorism is enforced; and the principle of neutrality is fully respected in UNRWA activities.
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 UN Security Council Resolutions 446 and 465, Israeli settlements in the occupied territories are a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention. Canada opposes these settlements, which serve as a serious obstacle to a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace.
In recent months, Canada – alongside allies and likeminded partners – has taken note that these illegal settlements as well as violence by extremist Settlers against Palestinian civilians – have grown at alarming rates, often with impunity. This is why Canada has 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. 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.
Canada also recognizes the Palestinian right to self-determination and believes that a clear and a credible path to a two-state solution must be urgently built. This process must give hope to both Palestinians and Israelis that they may live side by side in peace, security, and dignity, must be urgently built but it cannot indefinitely delay the creation of a Palestinian state. As the Government outlined in May, it 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 was a founding member and remains a strong proponent of the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) independence and its critical role in the peaceful settlements of disputes between countries. Canada also supports the International Criminal Court (ICC), established by the Rome Statute in large part thanks to Canadian leadership. Both institutions are key pillars of the international legal system, which plays a central role in underpinning global peace and security.
Canada has ratified the United Nations (UN) 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Genocide Convention), which includes an undertaking for Contracting Parties to prevent and punish genocide. Under the Genocide Convention, the crime of genocide requires the intention to destroy or partly destroy a group because of their nationality, ethnicity, race or religion. Meeting this high threshold requires compelling evidence.
Canada’s unwavering support for international law and the ICJ does not mean we accept the premise of the case brought by South Africa. The Government will follow the proceedings of South Africa’s case very closely as it progresses beyond the preliminary stages, including written submissions, oral proceedings, and the delivery of a final decision. Canada recognizes that decisions of the ICJ – including its response to South Africa’s request for provisional measures in their case against Israel – are binding on both parties. In this, the Court has been clear: Israel must ensure the delivery of basic services and essential humanitarian assistance and must protect civilians.
Canada joined with Australia and New Zealand to call on Israel to respond substantively to the recent ICJ advisory opinion on legal consequences arising from the policies and practices of Israel in the occupied Palestinian territory.
Canada also supports the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) critical role in pursuing accountability and its work as an important multilateral institution, and key pillar of the international rules-based order. Canada respects the independence of the Court, its judiciary and the Prosecutor, and will continue to react accordingly as the Court does its work.
- Presented to the House of Commons
-
Mike Morrice
(Kitchener Centre)
June 19, 2024 (Petition No. 441-02582) - Government response tabled
- August 21, 2024
Only validated signatures are counted towards the total number of signatures.