Canadian peace and solidarity groups Independent Jewish Voices (IJV) and Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) have both issued urgent appeals for the Trudeau government to demand an end to Israeli attacks on Gaza warning of possible genocide.
Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) urgently calls on the Canadian government to push for an end to mounting Israeli atrocities in the occupied and besieged Gaza Strip. CJPME’s call comes after Israel’s demand for the mass displacement of half the population of Gaza in advance of an Israeli ground invasion. Many commentators warn of the unconscionable prospect of an imminent Israeli “genocide” against Palestinians.
Overnight, Israel gave notice to more than 1.1 million Palestinians in the north of Gaza that they had 24 hours to relocate to the south of the territory in advance of Israel’s ground invasion. Israel claimed that the relocation of civilians is necessary “for their own safety and protection,” as it prepares for a major ground invasion. The UN has warned Israel that such movement is “impossible … without devastating humanitarian consequences,” and the UN agency for Palestinian refugees warns that it will “only lead to unprecedented levels of misery and further push people in Gaza into abyss.” CJPME argues that Israel’s ‘warning’ to civilians cannot be understood as genuine, particularly given the impossibility of it being implemented, but rather serves as a threat to trigger the forcible transfer of half the population of Gaza.
“The implications of Israel’s order are unprecedented and extremely alarming,” asserted Thomas Woodley, president of CJPME. “Given the very real possibility of a massive pogrom against Palestinian civilians, Canada must oppose Israel’s displacement orders in the strongest possible terms,” added Woodley. CJPME points out that, if Israel is permitted to impose its directive, it would lead to a displacement of Palestinians rivalling the one that occurred in 1948, known by Palestinians as the ‘Nakba’ (Arabic for ‘catastrophe’). CJPME considers the scale of this potential calamity to be unthinkable, and demands that Minister Joly put immediate pressure on Israel to retract its orders when she arrives in Israel today.
Canadian officials have spoken out in support of Israel’s “right to self-defence” and requested that it abide by international law, but Justin Trudeau and Mélanie Joly have yet to condemn or call for an end to Israeli attacks on Palestinians in Gaza.
As Israel continues to escalate its bombardment and 16-year siege of Gaza – cutting off food, fuel, vital aid and water – the Canadian government must be called upon to do what’s right: calling for an immediate ceasefire, and for an end to the collective punishment of Palestinians.
IJV has launched a letter writing campaign so that Canadians can send an email to PM Trudeau and Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, demanding that they take action now.
You can do so at: Gaza on the Brink: Ceasefire now! | IJV Canada