Canada Must Act to End the Genocide in Gaza
We are witnessing unimaginable suffering in Gaza, as Israel uses starvation as a weapon of war through its blockade and militarized aid system.
People in Gaza are dying from malnutrition and hunger-related illnesses. This week, over 100 humanitarian organizations warned of mass starvation in Gaza. Aid workers, health care workers, and journalists cannot do their jobs because they, too, are facing starvation.
Almost 900 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed seeking food, many at the private aid hubs backed by Israel and the US. Appallingly, the Israeli military has opened fire at people seeking food for their families.
We have all seen the horrific images of malnourished children, as Israel’s genocidal campaign happens before our eyes. This is preventable. Israel must stop blocking access to aid and end its siege on Gaza.
As the crisis deepens, National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) once again calls urgently for an immediate and lasting ceasefire, the unimpeded flow of aid and basic necessities of life into Gaza, and an end to Israel’s occupation.
Canada has legal obligations to prevent a genocide and to ensure it is not complicit in violations of international law. We also have a moral obligation to act in the face of such horror.
As NUPGE wrote to Prime Minister Carney after he was elected, Canada must use its voice and position to mobilize international pressure on Israel and take steps to end the devastation. While we welcome the recent joint statement from foreign ministers, including Canada’s, the time for statements alone has passed. We urge Canada to deliver on its promise to take concrete action.
NUPGE renews its call on the Canadian government to impose a two-way arms embargo on Israel to end Canada’s complicity. We further call on the Canadian government to impose targeted sanctions on Israeli leadership and military personnel responsible for war crimes.
No more empty words. The time for decisive action is now. •
This article first published on the NUPGE website.
