On Tuesday, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly announced Canada has suspended 30 permits for arms sales to Israel. Canada is also blocking a contract with the US government meant to send ammunition to the Israeli military made in Quebec.

In statements made at the Liberal caucus retreat, Joly told reporters Canadian-made weapons will not be sent to Gaza, indicating this move is in direct response to Israel’s military actions during the past 11 months of war with Hamas.

JSpaceCanada continues to condemn in the harshest terms the actions of Hamas on October 7, the murder of over 1,200 Israeli citizens and foreign workers, the taking of over 200 hostages, and the damage to Kibbutzim, Moshavim, and towns in the south of Israel. Its brutal murder of six hostages not even two weeks ago, and its continued abandonment of its people and their safety show the extent of this terror organization’s depravity, and its leadership must be held accountable for numerous war crimes and crimes against humanity.

JSpaceCanada has consistently maintained that Israel has the right and responsibility to defend itself and its citizens, however, the actions of Israel’s military in Gaza over the past 11 months have resulted in the death and injuries of far too many innocent civilians. We remain deeply concerned about the high toll of civilian casualties, especially as Israeli officials have been unable or unwilling to present a plan for a day-after in Gaza and show no signs of ending this military campaign, despite not achieving its primary goal of returning the hostages.

The announcement earlier this week from the Canadian government illustrates the extent to which Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government has isolated itself from its most important international allies, to the detriment of its own citizens and the hostages, whose time is rapidly running out in captivity.

While we support Israel’s right to defend itself, we firmly believe it must do so in accordance with international law, and where there is clear risk that arms are being used in violation of said law, Canada must act.

We stand in solidarity with the Israelis in the streets calling for an end to this war and a deal to return the remaining 101 hostages in captivity and support the efforts of the Canadian government to help secure a future in which both Israelis and Palestinians can live with the safety, security, and dignity they deserve.