Pro-Palestinian activists urge Canada to halt all arms sales to Israel

Pro-Palestinian activists have called on the Canadian government to adhere to its legal and humanitarian obligations and halt "all arms sales to Israel." 

In a letter to Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, 19 Canadian civil society organizations urged the Canadian government to stop all arms transfers to the Israeli regime amid its armed forces' year-long genocidal war on the helpless Palestinian people locked up in the besieged Gaza Strip.

The letter pointed out that the Canadian government is a partner in crime to the Tel Aviv regime in the "humanitarian catastrophe" in Gaza, and called upon the government to respect its obligations under the UN's Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), which Canada acceded to five years ago.

Under the ATT agreement, Canada is prohibited from exporting weapons to Israel when they are used to commit serious crimes under international law, including disproportionate and indiscriminate attacks.

"As organizations committed to upholding human rights, the protection of civilians, peace, and justice, we urge the Government of Canada to take immediate action to cease all exports of arms and arms components to Israel, as well as any and all transfers for which Israel will be the end user," the letter reads.

The letter specifies that members of the Canadian civil society organizations signing the letter give testimony each day of the death and destruction made by the arms and ammunition provided to the Israeli regime by Western countries, warning of "the grave consequences of the transfer of weapons to conflict parties."

In March 2024, Canadian lawmakers voted successfully to pass a motion calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, and an end to arms exports to the Israeli regime.

Also in March, the government of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced it would halt future arms sales to Israel, following a non-binding vote in the House of Commons.

"It is a real thing," Joly commented on the decision. However, previously approved arms transfers do not fall under the Canadian government's decision to stop the transfers.

However, even though Canadian lawmakers in the House of Commons voted in parliament against military sales to the Israeli regime, arms exports from Canada to Israel have continued.

Canadian arms manufacturing companies in 2023 exported $22.2 million worth of military material to Israel, placing the country among the top 10 recipients of Canadian arms exports.

Also, despite the parliamentary vote the government approved further Canadian military goods sales exports to Israel in 2024 and 2025.

UK partially suspends arms sales to Israel after months of protests

The United Kingdom announces a partial suspension of arms sales exports to the Israeli regime, amid criticisms of the UK

On Monday, London suspended 30 of its 350 arms export licenses to the Israeli regime amid criticisms of the UK government’s complicity in the Israeli genocide of the innocent Palestinian people trapped in the Gaza Strip.

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