The Canadian government, led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, has announced its decision to cease future arms exports to Israel. This move was initiated by a motion that was brought forward by the leftist New Democratic Party (NDP), which was originally introduced by NDP leader Jagmeet Singh.
After a 204-117 vote, the motion was passed in Canada’s House of Commons. The motion states that Canada will “cease the further authorization and transfer of arms exports to Israel to ensure compliance with Canada’s arms export regime and increase efforts to stop the illegal trade of arms, including to Hamas.”
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly confirmed that this motion is a reality and is a significant departure from Canada’s previous stance on the issue.
Singh, in his statement, explained that the fundamental changes that they aimed for were to put an end to the sale of arms to Israel, which has never been a stance taken by Canada before. The decision was made in light of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and concerns over the planned military offensive in the city of Rafah.
The majority of arms exports from Canada to Israel are for military equipment that is modified in Israel and then returned to Canada for their military use or for use by Canadian military allies. Therefore, it is expected that these returns might not be affected by the ban.
However, the move is seen as a significant step by Canada to address the issue and demonstrate their concern over the ongoing conflict. Nevertheless, it must be noted that Canada will still continue to benefit from Israeli expertise in this field.
As members of the Palestinian, Arab, and Black Muslim communities gathered for prayer yesterday, I wanted them to know this: We know you’re worried and hurting. We’re here for you. We will not stop advocating for civilians to be protected and for international law to be upheld. pic.twitter.com/El6KLO2CRw
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) October 21, 2023
After the vote, Trudeau spoke to Benny Gantz, a leader in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s war cabinet, and expressed his concerns over the situation in Gaza and the planned military offensive in Rafah.
The Prime Minister’s office released a statement saying that the decision was taken in light of the humanitarian crisis and the need to ensure compliance with Canada’s arms export regulations. However, it was also made clear that Canada recognizes Israel’s right to defend itself against terrorism.
Israeli Ambassador to Canada, Iddo Moed, stated that the move to halt arms transfers to Israel would weaken their defense against Hamas. He said that the motivation behind the motion was merely to increase pressure on Israel and not to address the root issues, such as the release of hostages and Hamas laying down their weapons. Moed also highlighted that these two factors would play a crucial role in achieving peace and stability in the region.
Canadian officials stated that the decision was made after assessing the risks associated with arms exports to Israel. They claimed that there was a substantial risk of the arms being used for purposes other than what they were intended for. This also raises concerns about the potential misuse of arms by Hamas militants, a group recognized as a terrorist organization by Canada.
The original resolution also included a call for Canada to recognize the “State of Palestine,” but it was revised to support the “establishment of the State of Palestine as part of a negotiated two-state solution,” according to The Toronto Star.
In October last year, two weeks after a violent Hamas attack that killed over 1,200 Israelis, Trudeau had tweeted in support of Palestinian, Arab, and black Muslim communities, expressing solidarity and assuring them that the government would continue to advocate for their protection and uphold international law.
The decision to cease arms exports to Israel comes in line with Canada’s stance on human rights and international laws. The move also signifies Canada’s commitment to addressing the ongoing conflict and promoting peace in the region.
