By David Baxter & Sean Boynton Global News
Posted December 12, 2023
WATCH: Canada to support calls for ceasefire in ongoing conflict in Gaza, Joly announces
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is calling for a resumption of a pause in the Israel-Hamas conflict, and says Canada supports efforts “towards a sustainable ceasefire.”
This comes from a joint statement issued Tuesday from Trudeau and his Australian and New Zealand counterparts.
Canada later voted in favour of a resolution in the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday that calls for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” in Gaza and the immediate release of all hostages. The non-binding measure received overwhelming support from the international body.
Prior to question period, Trudeau told reporters that he spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prior to the UN vote.
“I just got off the phone with a long and detailed conversation with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel in which I outlined Canada’s position. And we are committed to working with partners in the region and around the world towards an enduring two-state solution,” Trudeau said.
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“Canada is committed to ensuring that Israelis and Palestinians get to live in peace and security within internationally recognized borders in peaceful and successful states.”
In the earlier statement from Trudeau and his counterparts, it goes on to say that it recognizes Israel’s right to defend itself in the wake of the deadly Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas that Israel says killed 1,200 people and in which 240 people were taken hostage.
“In defending itself, Israel must respect international humanitarian law. Civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected. We are alarmed at the diminishing safe space for civilians in Gaza,” the statement says. “The price of defeating Hamas cannot be the continuous suffering of all Palestinian civilians.”
Gaza’s Hamas-run Health Ministry says more than 18,000 people have been killed in the conflict since the Oct. 7 attacks.
“We must recognize that what is unfolding before our eyes will only enhance the cycle of violence,” Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said Tuesday on Parliament Hill.
“This will not lead to the durable defeat of Hamas, which is necessary, and the threat that it poses to Israel. With the future of Israelis and Palestinians in mind, Canada is joining the international call for humanitarian ceasefire.”
Canada has stated from the beginning that Israel has the right to defend itself, Joly said. “And how Israel defends itself matters. It matters for the future of both Israelis and Palestinians, and it matters for the future of the region,” she added.
During the UN debate over the ceasefire motion, Ambassador Bob Rae maintained that Canada “continues to unequivocally condemn Hamas’ brutal terrorist attacks” on Israel, but noted the growing humanitarian crisis affecting innocent Palestinians.
“We are alarmed at the diminishing safe space for civilians in Gaza,” he said. “The price of defeating Hamas cannot be the continuous suffering of Palestinian civilians.”
The vote in the 193-member world body was 153 in favor, 10 against and 23 abstentions — stronger support than an earlier ceasefire resolution received in October. The United States voted against it after its proposed amendment to include condemnation of Hamas was voted down.
Yet U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday also shifted his rhetoric when speaking about the conflict, warning during a campaign reception that Israel was at risk of losing global support because of what he described as “indiscriminate bombing” of the Gaza Strip.
A Biden administration official told Global News there is no change to the U.S. position the opposes a ceasefire, adding on background that it continues to support temporary “humanitarian pauses” that allow aid into Gaza and for civilians to flee violence, as well as the safe return of hostages.
“What we do not support are calls for Israel to stop defending itself from Hamas terrorists, which is what a permanent ceasefire would be,” the official added.
The National Council of Canadian Muslims called the UN vote a “milestone” that needs to translate into “the reality of action and deeds.”
Yet the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs said it was “disgusted and frankly shocked” by Canada’s stance, given that the motion does not explicitly call out Hamas for its crimes or urge the group to surrender.
“Canada’s decision to support the resolution will undoubtedly lead to further hate being directed towards Jews here in Canada,” it said in a written statement.
Hamas “cannot be rewarded and left unaccountable,” said the group, which represents Jewish federations across Canada.
In an interview with Global News, Israel’s ambassador to Canada Iddo Moed said the statements from Trudeau and Joly, as well as the UN vote, represented a change in Canada’s position on Israel and the conflict in Gaza.
“I think that it has changed for the worse in Israel’s eyes because calling for a ceasefire in a situation that Isael is forced into a war … actually does not strengthen us,” he said. “It emboldens the terrorists.”
The joint statement from Trudeau, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says there is no place for Hamas in the future governance of Gaza.
Trudeau has previously backed a “humanitarian pause” along with other western leaders in order to get aid into the Palestinian territory.
Those are different from ceasefires, which are formal temporary or longer-lasting agreements between parties or actors in a conflict to agree to end hostilities.
“The recent pause in hostilities allowed for the release of more than 100 hostages and supported an increase in humanitarian access to affected civilians. We acknowledge the persistent diplomatic efforts of the United States, Qatar, and Egypt to broker this pause, and we regret it could not be extended,” the statement issued Tuesday said.
“We want to see this pause resumed and support urgent international efforts towards a sustainable ceasefire. This cannot be one-sided. Hamas must release all hostages, stop using Palestinian civilians as human shields, and lay down its arms.”
The statement adds: “There is no role for Hamas in the future governance of Gaza.”
—With files from the Canadian Press
Canada's vote for a 'sustainable ceasefire' at the UN, pushed by much public support, draws ire and criticism by some politicians and residents
·Writer, Yahoo News Canada
Wed, December 13, 2023
A Jewish advocacy organisation is taking aim at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his government, accusing them of hypocrisy, as Canada voted in favour of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas at the United Nations.
Canada joined Australia, New Zealand and 150 other nations in backing a non-binding resolution calling for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” in the Middle East conflict that has claimed more than tens of thousands of Gazan lives since the events of Oct. 7.
“Since October 7, over 18,000 Palestinian civilians have been killed in Gaza, thousands of children are now orphans. Countless Palestinian civilians in Gaza are suffering without water, food, fuel or medicine and their homes have been reduced to rubble. We must recognize that what is unfolding before our eyes will only enhance the cycle of violence,” Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said during a presser Tuesday afternoon.
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs expressed its dissatisfaction with the Canadian government’s latest stance on the issue and accused them of appearing to be “hypocritical” in their ever-shifting position on the matter.
“Canadian foreign policy shows itself to be hypocritical,” CIJA President and CEO Shimon Koffler Fogel said in a statement shared with Yahoo News Canada.
“We’re disgusted and frankly shocked that only hours after issuing a statement that a ceasefire would only be possible under the condition that Hamas release the hostages, stop its use of Palestinians as human shields, lay down its arms, and surrender its control of Gaza, Canada voted in support of a UN General Assembly resolution supporting a ceasefire.”
In the hours leading to the UN vote, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a joint statement with his Australian and New Zealand counterparts, calling for a “sustainable ceasefire” in the war between Israel and Hamas while also urging on an “immediate and unconditional release” of the Israeli hostages and for Hamas to “lay down its arms.”
The joint statement also marks the first time Trudeau used the term "ceasefire" in reference to the Israel-Hamas war as until then he called for a humanitarian pause in the conflict.
Related: Canadians scoff at PM Trudeau's calls for humanitarian pause instead of ceasefire
The CIJA chief pointed out how Canada initially reaffirmed “Israel's right to exist and defend itself” as it further denounced Hamas but then went on to support a resolution that, according to the Jewish support group, fails to hold Hamas accountable.
“Did anything change on the ground in the short hours between Canada’s statement and the scheduled UN vote? The answer is no. Hamas still holds more than 100 Israelis hostage. It is still using Palestinians as human shields. And it is still indiscriminately firing rockets at Israelis,” the statement read.
A total of 153 countries voted in favour of the resolution with 10 against, including the United States and 23 abstaining, including the United Kingdom.
Some Liberal party MPs are not in favour of their government’s latest position
Liberal MPs like former cabinet minister Marco Mendicino and Quebecer Anthony Housefather expressed their disagreement on X, formerly known as Twitter, while specifically stating calls for an unconditional ceasefire only jeopardise the safety of Israelis and Palestinians in Gaza.
“I do not support [the resolution's] call for Israel to agree to what is, effectively, an unconditional ceasefire. At present, that would only place in further jeopardy the safety and security of Israelis & Palestinians in Gaza," he wrote.
‘Our pressure is working,’ Canadians welcome government’s support for ceasefire
Many Canadians welcomed the Trudeau government’s push for a ceasefire, calling it a “positive step” in building “lasting peace” in the region.
“Today marks a positive step. We must continue working to achieve a permanent ceasefire & commit to build a better & lasting peace,” wrote Mississauga MP Iqra Khalid on X.
The National Council of Canadian Muslims, too, lauded the Trudeau government's vote in favour of a ceasefire, however, acknowledged that it was "late" to act.
"Today’s vote in calling for a ceasefire came late. But it was an important moment to finally stand on the right side of history from @JustinTrudeau and @melaniejoly. Over 70% of Canadians wanted to see a ceasefire. Canadians stand for peace," NCCM posted on X.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa that he made Canada’s position clear to his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, in a “long and detailed” phone call.
Trudeau did not use the term "ceasefire" in his brief exchange with reporters, according to CBC.
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