Canada Must Act: UN Confirms Genocide in Gaza — No More Excuses

WHO: Draw the Line Coalition

MEDIA CONTACT: Gur Tsabar and Alicia Parker, [email protected]

Ottawa, ON - Today’s UN Commission finding that Israel has committed genocide in the Gaza Strip is an historic but long overdue confirmation of what Palestinians and human rights groups have been saying for years. The genocide is now indisputable. States have a legal obligation under the Genocide Convention to prevent, punish, and put an immediate end to it.

“Canada cannot look away or hide behind diplomatic niceties — this finding triggers binding obligations,” said Emma Jackson, a spokesperson for the Palestine Solidarity Network. “That means a full and immediate two-way arms embargo including closing all arms loopholes, cutting diplomatic and military ties with Israel, and holding Israeli officials accountable for their crimes. Anything less is complicity.”

The UN Commission’s report concludes that Israel has committed four of the five genocidal acts defined under international law: killing, causing serious harm, inflicting life-destroying conditions, and preventing births; and that these acts are carried out with intent to destroy the Palestinian people in Gaza in whole or in part.

Prime Minister Mark Carney and Foreign Minister Anita Anand must stop hiding behind symbolic motions and take immediate action:

• Impose a legally binding arms embargo and end all military exports to and imports from Israel.
• Suspend diplomatic and trade relations with Israel until the genocide ends.
• Support international prosecution of Israeli officials responsible for these crimes.

This moment demands moral courage. Canada’s obligations under the Genocide Convention are not optional. To do nothing now would make Canada complicit in one of history’s gravest crimes.

On September 20th, tens of thousands will mobilize across 60+ Canada cities to draw the line against this billionaire agenda that puts corporate profit over people's lives and basic needs. Full details of all the actions can be found at drawtheline.world/dtl-canada-s11.

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The Draw the Line mobilizations in Canada are organized by Seniors for Climate, Migrant Rights Network, Indigenous Climate Action, Sacred Earth Solar, Climate Action Network Canada (CAN-Rac), 350.org, World Beyond War Canada, For Our Kids, Climate Reality Project Canada, Climate Emergency Unit, Greenpeace Canada, Council of Canadians, Music Declares Emergency, and Palestine Solidarity Network, and endorsed by over 300 organizations representing millions of Canadians. From rallies to strikes, marches to gatherings, this September 20th, communities will mobilize across the country and demand that Prime Minister Carney and the Canadian government pick a side: injustice, violence, and climate destruction- or a just and safe future for all of us.

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