Trudeau government will stop arming 'Israel': Canadian FM
4 Min Read
The administration will stop future military transfers to "Israel" although a motion voted on by the House of Commons on Monday calling for such action is non-binding.
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Canada's Foreign Minister Melanie Joly speaks to the media during a press conference with Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in Kiev, Ukraine, on February 2, 2024. (AP)
Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly revealed that the administration of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will cease delivering arms to the Israeli occupation.
Speaking to the Toronto Star on Tuesday, Joly divulged that the shift is important and not just symbolic.
The administration will stop future military transfers to "Israel" although a motion voted on by the House of Commons on Monday calling for such action is non-binding.
"It is a real thing," Joly told the Star shortly after a majority of Liberal MPs and cabinet voted in favor of a modified NDP motion.
Canada's parliamentary motion, initially proposed by the left-leaning New Democrats (NDP), called for the international community to pursue a "two-state solution". However, last-minute revisions were made to the language, removing explicit support for Palestinian statehood.
The initial motion called for the recognition of the State of Palestine but was changed to "establishment of the State of Palestine as part of a negotiated two-state solution negotiation."
In addition, the initial motion urged for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza but was then conditioned on disarming the Palestinian Resistance.
Third, the suspension of "all trade in military goods and technology with "Israel" and increased efforts to stop the illegal trade of arms, including to Hamas" was rephrased to Canada's commitment to "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."
On his part, playing the victim card again, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz slammed Canada for the decision.
“I am sorry that the government of Canada is taking this step that undermines Israel’s right to self-defense in the face of Hamas murderers who carried out terrible crimes against humanity and against innocent Israelis, including the elderly, women and children,” he said in a statement.
“History will judge the current acts of Canada harshly,” he added.
In November last year, a month into the war on Gaza, the International Center of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) informed Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and three other government officials of its intent to prosecute them for complicity in Israeli war crimes in Gaza.
"The notice was issued to ... Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly, Minister of National Revenue Marie-Claude Bibeau, and Minister of Justice (Attorney General) Arif Virani," the statement added.
The notice was issued as a warning to Canadian government officials, including Trudeau, that they could be individually held liable and prosecuted before the International Criminal Court (ICC) if evidence is found of their complicity in Israeli war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Israeli-led genocide on Gaza.
Canada dismisses South Africa's genocide case against 'Israel' at ICJ
In January, Trudeau stated that Canada does not endorse the argument presented by South Africa at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which posits that "Israel" is responsible for committing acts of genocide in the Gaza Strip.
"Canada right now is directly engaged in at least five different cases at the ICJ because we believe in the importance of that as an institution, but our wholehearted support of the ICJ and its processes does not mean that we support the premise of the case brought forward by South Africa," Trudeau said.
When asked about Canada's stance on potentially accepting an ICJ ruling favoring South Africa, Trudeau stated that his government backs the court's thorough efforts and proceedings.
Meanwhile, Israeli occupation forces committed another atrocious massacre in the Gaza Strip, executing 50 Palestinian citizens in Al-Shifa Medical Complex, the Gaza Media Office announced on Tuesday.
The occupation's military also arrested around 200 Palestinians in the area surrounding the complex and Al-Shifa Hospital itself, according to the Media Office.
It revealed that the Israeli military admitted to committing the massacre, a "clear war crime" and a "blatant violation of international law."
"We received preliminary information regarding the occupation army's execution of a number of children among civilians, patients, and [forcibly] displaced people that were executed."
