Canada must not continue to be complicit in genocide

Today, in light of last week’s report from Arms Embargo Now, Inter Pares reiterates the call for Canada to take concrete and immediate action to stop enabling genocide in Gaza.

The report details evidence of ongoing weapons shipments from Canadian arms manufacturers directly to Israel, despite the government of Canada’s claims that it has not allowed these shipments since January 2024.

Canadian laws require the government to stop authorizing the export of military technology when doing so would facilitate violations of international law. And as a signatory to the Genocide Convention, Canada must act now to fulfill its legal and ethical obligations.

As the report states, for Canada this means “canceling all active arms export permits, closing loopholes for U.S. transfers, banning surveillance and dual-use technology, and canceling all contracts and planned purchases of military goods from Israel.”

We acknowledge Prime Minister Mark Carney’s statement that Canada intends to recognize the State of Palestine at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in September 2025. However, this stated intention rings especially hollow in light of last week’s report and will do nothing to avoid further catastrophe to the 2.1 million Palestinians facing ongoing genocide and starvation in Gaza.

It is essential that our government ensure that Canadian policy and action do not continue to contribute to genocide and criminal abuses in Gaza and other armed conflicts around the world.

Read the full report and find tools to take action