According to a report by the Toronto Star, Canada has suspended its exports of non-lethal military goods and technology to Israel due to mounting apprehensions about human rights violations in the ongoing conflict with Palestine, particularly in Gaza.
Senior government officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, revealed that this pause in exports was initiated two months ago, with applications for permits to ship non-lethal goods and technology on hold since January 8. While Canada continues to receive and review applications for non-lethal exports to Israel, the move underscores growing concerns within the Canadian government regarding the situation in the region.
Despite this pause, the federal government of Canada has reportedly approved over $28.5 million in new export permits for military goods and technology to Israel during the initial two months of the conflict.
This development comes amidst legal actions against the Canadian government over its arms exports to Israel. A group of Canadian rights activists has filed a lawsuit aiming to halt military exports to Israel, citing the substantial risk of these exports being used to violate international law and commit serious acts of violence against civilians, particularly women and children.
The situation in Gaza has drawn international attention, with over 31,000 Palestinians, including numerous civilians, losing their lives since the start of Israel's offensive following Operation al-Aqsa Storm by Gaza-based resistance movements in October 2023. The conflict has resulted in widespread destruction, displacement, and a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, prompting accusations of genocide against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
Amidst ongoing hostilities, Hamas, the Palestinian resistance movement, has condemned Israel's actions, accusing the Zionist occupation of committing massacres and genocide against unarmed Palestinian civilians in Gaza. Hamas attributes the international community's failure to take action against Israel as complicity in these atrocities.
The situation underscores the urgent need for international efforts to address the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in Gaza, as well as the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
