Spain’s Foreign Minister, Manuel Albares hosted a meeting of some 20 European and Arab States in Madrid to discuss measures to ensure humanitarian aid enters Gaza “massively” and “neutrally”. Unfortunately Canada was missing… Read more.
Countries that Israel has long counted on as its staunchest supporters have been adding their voices to growing international pressure over its expanded military operations against Gaza. “What the Israeli army is now doing in the Gaza Strip, I frankly no longer understand with what goal,” German Chancellor Merz said at a conference in Berlin on Monday.
Only a few days earlier, Canada, France and Britain signed a joint communique threatening Israel with concrete measures. “If Israel does not cease the renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid, we will take further concrete actions in response”, read the joint statement.
That is the strongest statement Canada had made so far about the genocide in Gaza (though it carefully avoided using the word “genocide”). What those “concrete actions” would be, or when they might take effect was left unclear.
Since then, barely any aid has crossed into Gaza despite assurances from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel would allow “limited aid” in to assuage concerns from allies. The United Nations has said the amount of aid allowed in so far is a “drop in the ocean”, while some aid groups have described Netanyahu’s announcement as a “smokescreen”.
Israel continues to carry out strikes across the densely populated Gaza Strip, killing at least 45 people on Monday, according to local health authorities. In Gaza City, medics said, 30 Palestinians, including women and children who had been displaced by the 20-month war and were seeking shelter in a Gaza City school, were killed in an airstrike.
Safety in numbers…
Spain’s foreign minister convened a meeting of European and Arab nations in Madrid on May 25th to urge a halt to Israel’s offensive.
The Madrid meeting offered Canada an opportunity to join with others to take some concrete action. It makes sense for Canada to work with other nations given the Trump administration’s support for Israel. To go it alone would seem reckless.
So far, Mr. Carney seems stronger in word than in deed when it comes to standing up to Israel and demanding an end to the genocide. It remains unclear when Canada would take “concrete steps” to oppose the genocide, or what they might be.
How to increase the pressure to “act” rather than just “speak”?
The Ottawa Forum on Israel/Palestine invites you to an urgent public meeting in Ottawa on Monday, June 16th, to discuss Canada’s moral and legal obligations with respect to Gaza and how to encourage the Carney government to step up to face them.
Canada Talks Israel Palestine (CTIP) is the weekly newsletter of Peter Larson, Chair of the Ottawa Forum on Israel/Palestine (OFIP). It aims to promote a serious discussion in Canada about Canada’s response to the complicated and emotional Israel/Palestine issue with a focus on the truth, clear analysis and human rights for all. Readers with different points of view are invited to make comment.
Want to learn more about us? Go to Ottawa Forum on Israel/Palestine.ca
Canada Talks Israel/Palestine 
We should DEMAND that Canada take concrete action to stop this genocide and immoral starvation of the Gazans . Words are insufficient and show weakness and lack of sincerity in following through with immediate sanctions , condemnation, isolation and whatever it takes to stop and shame this unending Israeli brutal madness.
“Nero fiddled while Rome burned,” is an apt description for what western leaders are doing about the genocide going on in Gaza and the WB right now. Canada France and the UK have recently called for “concrete measures” against Israel unless it lifts its blockade of food and medical supplies going to the Palestinian people. Nothing has been done. Instead the death toll of Palestinians continues to rise. As a Canadian, I am waiting for PM Carney to do something “concrete” to address this issue, but I am not holding my breath.
Peter, I will be away on June 16th, so cannot attend this meeting. Is there a way to attend ‘virtually?’ If not, what else can I do (besides write letter, donate, etc.)?
The fact that most of the world, including Canada, continues to do nothing, or very little, as the Palestinians (in Gaza and the West Bank) are being systematically slaughtered is beyond belief.
Sanctions? OK, but continuing to supply weapons to Israel?
The hypocrisy laid bare…
Thanks, as always, for your persistence and good work.
Bessa