Please read the following joint letter from Elizabeth and members of the Canada-Palestine Friendship Group to the Prime Minister on October 30, 2024:
Prime Minister,
As Members of the Canada-Palestine Parliamentary Friendship Group we are saddened to be writing to you again as war continues to rage in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon. We feel compelled to draw your attention once again to this vital humanitarian issue. To begin, we would like to thank you and Global Affairs Minister Melanie Joly for your clear call for a cease fire, and for the recent announcement of financial assistance for refugees fleeing the conflict in Gaza. This answers a key call from the community for support for people fleeing the war zone. We urge you to continue working with like-minded countries and allies to broker a cease fire and support calls for de-escalation and the release of all hostages and prisoners to their families. We ask you to give your strongest consideration to the following requests:
- Recognition of the State of Palestine.
- Implementation of IRPA and Magnitsky sanctions on the Netanyahu government for its clear violations of international law.
- Revise Canada’s stance on Israel’s conduct when taking military action, given the extreme level of destruction and civilian death caused by the IDF.
- Support a resolution at the United Nations calling for peacekeepers to be stationed in Gaza as part of the development of mechanisms to ensure civilian protection.
- Make clear Canada will not accept any law passed by the Israeli Parliament that would prohibit the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) from doing its vital humanitarian work, and that banning UNRWA would result in the strongest diplomatic reaction by Canada.
- A clear and unambiguous, two-way arms embargo in line with the motion adopted by Parliament on March 18, 2024. Like you, we believe that there must be peace and a viable two-state solution with a free and democratic Palestine living in peace alongside a free and democratic Israel. We urge you to use all diplomatic tools at your disposal to work for this just outcome.
Sincerely,
MP Salma Zahid, Chair MP, Mario Beaulieu, Vice -Chair, MP Alexandre Boulerice, Vice-Chair, MP Elizabeth May, Vice-Chair