Group calls for Parliament to label Israel’s actions in Gaza a genocide
Justice for All Canada, an advocacy group based in Canada, is urging parliamentarians in Ottawa to officially declare Israel’s military actions in the Gaza Strip as genocide. The group’s executive director, Taha Ghayyur, emphasized the importance of not remaining silent while a population is being destroyed and called for concrete action from members of Parliament.
Despite holding a media event in Ottawa, Justice for All Canada has not yet received public support from any MPs for their call to recognize the situation in Gaza as genocide. Ahmed Ramadan, the group’s advocacy and government relations officer, highlighted that acknowledging genocide would reinforce Canada’s commitment to upholding international law and human rights.
The group’s motion is based on a provisional order from the International Court of Justice in January 2024, which suggested that Israel’s actions in Gaza could potentially amount to genocide according to the Genocide Convention. Justice for All Canada pointed out that various individuals and organizations, including Canadian ex-diplomats, international law experts, and human rights groups, have already labeled Israel’s military campaign in Gaza as genocide.
The timing of this call coincides with Prime Minister Mark Carney’s cabinet retreat and Canada’s planned recognition of a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly. The group hopes that by officially acknowledging genocide, Canada will be compelled to take concrete actions such as halting arms exports to Israel.
While Israel and its supporters argue that the country is acting in self-defense, reports from organizations like Amnesty International and investigations by media outlets have raised concerns about civilian casualties and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The ongoing conflict has resulted in a significant number of civilian deaths and displacement, with aid groups warning of a famine in Gaza City.
Some members of the Canadian Parliament, particularly from the Liberal and NDP parties, have already used the term genocide to describe the events in Gaza. However, the Conservative Party maintains that Israel has the right to defend itself against terrorist groups like Hamas.
Justice for All Canada believes that a formal recognition of genocide by the Canadian government would not only be symbolic but also carry legal implications. They argue that Canada may need to reassess its arms exports to Israel and close existing loopholes in its arms export laws to uphold human rights standards.
As the debate continues within Canadian political circles, the push for Canada to officially recognize the situation in Gaza as genocide underscores the importance of holding all parties accountable for their actions in conflicts around the world.
