Subject: Suspension of Canadian military exports to Israel in a context of famine and serious violations of international law in Gaza
Madam Minister,
We write to you as a collective of Canadian humanitarian organizations working in Gaza, while mass famine reported by more than 100 NGOs is now confirmed by the latest IPC report, which demonstrates that the famine thresholds have been affected in Gaza – in a context of systematic blocking of humanitarian aid and general destruction of goods essential to the survival of the civilian population. This new worsening of the humanitarian situation is all the more alarming in the light of recent and deeply disturbing revelations on the continuation of the transfer of Canadian weapons to Israel in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
We write to you today to underline one of the concrete means by which you can act. As you know, we have repeatedly asked the Government of Canada to end its military support from Israel as part of its current offensive in Gaza – and more specifically, to suspend all the transfers of Canadian military equipment to Israel, whether direct or indirect. In March 2024, following the adoption of a motion in the House of Commons, the government undertook to adopt a clear policy of restriction of arms exports. In September 2024, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, also said “There are no weapons or components of Canadian weapons that will find himself in Gaza. »»
Despite these statements – which have never been published in the form of an official policy – and our repeated requests, the recently made public information shows that Canada has not ended its military support in Israel and even continued to transfer weapons. These facts are deeply worrying and raise serious questions about the legal and moral responsibilities of Canada, as well as on its complicity in the serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights committed within the framework of this conflict.
As you know, under the Treatise on Arms trade supervising export control, Canada has the legal obligation not to authorize the export of weapons or related goods when there is a substantial risk whether they are used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian or human rights. In addition, as a part of the common article 1 of the Geneva Conventions of 1949, Canada is required to prevent the transfer of weapons to any party – state or non -state – when there is a clear risk that these weapons contribute to violations of international humanitarian law. Canada also has an obligation to ensure compliance with the United Nations Security Council resolution 2417, which prohibits the use of famine as a weapon of war and requires states that they prevent such violations.
For months, we have shared with you, as well as with your predecessor, overwhelming evidence demonstrating that such violations are committed daily, systematically and largely by the Israeli forces in Gaza.
Faced with the widespread famine imposed by Israel, continuous restrictions on humanitarian aid based on principles, and incessant attacks on civilians, humanitarian workers, journalists and essential infrastructure carried out by Israeli forces, the maintenance of Canadian military support is deeply shocking and unacceptable. Canada’s inaction contributes directly to an extermination campaign of the Palestinian people. A campaign that has already cost the lives of tens of thousands of civilians, including our colleagues, partners, patients and beneficiaries.
We therefore ask you, Madam Minister, to act in a resolute and immediate manner to, at the very least, actually suspend all the transfers of Canadian military equipment to Israel, including by closing all the breaches allowing American weapons to pass through or benefit from Canadian supply chains, and by prohibiting the transfer of surveillance technologies and double -use technologies.
We are ready to continue discussions with you. As indicated in our letter of June 13, 2025, we would be happy to meet you in order to discuss the situation in Gaza and the important measures that you can take, in coherence with the concrete actions announced last May by Prime Minister Carney as well as by the leaders of the United Kingdom and France.
We urge you to act without delay. Respect for international humanitarian law and human rights is not negotiable. An additional inaction would constitute a serious violation of the legal obligations of Canada and a deep moral failure in the history of our country.
Please receive, Madam Minister, our respectful greetings.
