Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) welcomes the joint statement by Canada, the United Kingdom and France threatening “concrete actions” in response to Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
For the first time, the three leaders described Israel’s latest military escalation in Gaza as “wholly disproportionate,” warned that denying aid to Gaza “risks” breaching international law, and pledged that they “will not stand by while the Netanyahu Government pursues these egregious actions.” CJPME urges Prime Minister Mark Carney to follow through with immediate sanctions, noting that the threshold for action has long been surpassed.
For the first time since the start of the genocide, Canada is talking about ‘concrete actions’ to stop Israel’s war crimes. Canada’s words are starting to reflect the urgency of the moment. This should have been Canada’s response in October 2023, when Israel’s genocidal intent was plain to see,” said Michael Bueckert, Acting President of CJPME. “Carney must now prove that these are not empty threats. If Canada’s word is to be taken seriously, we must move to sanction Israel immediately, added Bueckert.
CJPME argues that statements alone have failed to restrain Israel’s illegal actions in the occupied Palestinian territory or to dissuade Israeli leaders from their goals of conquering Gaza and ethnically cleansing Palestine.
Just yesterday, Israeli Finance Minister boasted publicly:
We are disassembling Gaza, and leaving it as piles of rubble, with total destruction [which has] no precedent globally. And the world isn’t stopping us.” Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu has already rejected the statement from Canada, claiming that Israel will not stop “until total victory is achieved.
Israel has already dismissed Canada’s demands. Gaza cannot wait another minute. Carney must follow through and enact sanctions without delay, said Bueckert.
While Carney has not specified which policy measures he is contemplating, CJPME believes that an adequate response to genocide and manufactured famine in Gaza must include the following at a minimum:
Impose a two-way arms embargo on Israel under the Special Economic Measures Act;
Sanction Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders responsible for war crimes;
Cancel the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement (CIFTA) and prohibit all trade with illegal Israeli settlements;
Expel the Israeli ambassador;
Support for the International Criminal Court and assist in the arrest and prosecution of Netanyahu and Gallant; and
Join South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice
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Source: Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME)
