Canada backed a motion for an “immediate” ceasefire in a vote Tuesday at the U.N. General Assembly, a first since the outbreak of the war between Israel and Hamas that has claimed around 20,000 lives in just over two months.
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The text of the motion called for an “immediate” ceasefire, recalled that all parties must respect international law and called for clearing the field for humanitarian aid, as well as calling for the immediate release of the hostages.
Israel and the United States are among ten countries that have opposed the proposal. The United Kingdom, which traditionally follows the same line, preferred to abstain.
In a lengthy statement released midday Tuesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his counterparts from Australia and New Zealand said they were “deeply concerned about the reduction of the security zone reserved for civilians in Gaza.”
However, the latter added that “this ceasefire cannot be one-sided” and that “Hamas must release all hostages, stop using Palestinian civilians as human shields and lay down its weapons.”
“Hamas has no role in the future government of the Gaza Strip,” they said, although it rejects “the forced expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza, any further occupation of the Gaza Strip, any territorial reduction and any resort to siege or blockade.” ”
“We insist that Gaza must no longer serve as a platform for terrorism.”
Mr. Trudeau had just finished a “very long” discussion with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when he briefly addressed reporters and said there was “still a lot of work to do” to reach the two-way solution.
Previously, the Trudeau government had instead called for a humanitarian ceasefire to allow for the delivery of humanitarian aid and the exchange of hostages.
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The CIJA “disgusted”
The announcement sparked a scathing response from the Advisory Center for Jewish and Israeli Relations (CIJA), which said it was “disgusted and frankly shocked.”
“The Canadian Jewish community will not forget that, in the face of unprecedented anti-Semitism, aggravated by the October 7 massacre perpetrated by Hamas, the Canadian government has decided to uphold not only Israel's right to defend itself, but also Israel's right to defend itself “ignoring Israel’s obligation to defend itself,” the organization writes in a publication on X.
The CIJA asserts that “Canada’s decision to support the resolution will undoubtedly lead to an increase in hatred against Jews here in Canada.”
Liberal MP Anthony Housefather also distanced himself from his party's position.
“To end hostilities, I believe Hamas must release all hostages, lay down their weapons and surrender. Hamas, a terrorist organization, bears sole responsibility for starting a war. “I don’t agree with our vote today at the United Nations,” he said on X.
To end hostilities, I believe Hamas must release all hostages, lay down their weapons and surrender. Hamas, a terrorist organization, bears sole responsibility for starting a war. I do not agree with our vote today at the United Nations.
— Anthony Housefather (@AHousefather) December 12, 2023
In contrast, the organization Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) welcomed Canada's new position, evidence that “the government is gradually giving in to popular pressure.”
“CJPME calls on Canada to unequivocally demand an end to Israel's genocidal war and back up its words by suspending military trade with Israel,” she said in a statement.