Demand for Canada to Urge Israel Compliance with Global Legal Standards

Rewritten Article

In the early days of March, Israel's government - led by Benjamin Netanyahu - breached a ceasefire that it had agreed upon with Hamas. This agreement, which had received the endorsement of U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and the previous Biden administration, aimed to lead to the release of the remaining 59 Israeli hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and an eventual withdrawal of Israeli troops, thereby ending the conflict.

However, after Hamas rejected new terms for the ceasefire, Israel imposed a ruthless blockade on Gaza, barring the entry of essential supplies such as food, water, and medicine. This blockade affects approximately 2.1 million Palestinians residing in Gaza. Moreover, Israel relentlessly continued its low-intensity yet deadly attacks on Gaza using drones and rocket fire. These attacks have resulted in the deaths of countless innocent civilians, including women, children, and a few Hamas operatives. The total death toll now stands at over 52,000, with around 70% being women and children.

In response to Israel's actions, the Office of the United Nations Human Rights Commission has released a damning report, denouncing Israel's "repeated destruction of life in Gaza through attacks by land, air, and sea" and the prevention of humanitarian aid as "grave international crimes." Israel, unsurprisingly, disagreed with the report, labeling it as biased and inconsiderate of the ongoing attacks by Hamas.

In a bizarre twist, despite strong public support for a ceasefire to secure the release of the remaining hostages and for Netanyahu to step down, Israeli politicians are still weighing their options. Analysts have pointed out that the recent decisions by the Israeli security cabinet to prolong the conflict and potentially displace the entire Gazan population are based on political rather than military considerations. This political manipulation serves Netanyahu's desire to postpone elections, prevent the formation of a state commission of inquiry into the massacre on Oct. 7, and delay or terminate his ongoing trial on three criminal charges. On the other hand, Netanyahu's far-right ministers are eager to take advantage of the war and the resulting displacement of Gazans to implement their vision of resettling Gaza.

Sadly, the Canadian government, led by Mark Carney, has remained strangely silent on the subject. Historically, Liberal governments have been strong supporters of Israel's right to exist in peace and its right to self-defense, while also promoting the rule of law, human rights, and respect for international humanitarian law. It's high time for Canada to speak up and protest the ongoing abuses in Gaza and the West Bank, both illegal occupied territories, and demand that the Israeli government uphold international law.

Jon Allen, a former Canadian Ambassador to Israel and Spain, is currently a Senior Fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy

Opinion articles reflect the authors' interpretations and judgments of facts, data, and events.

Enrichment Insights

Political motivations behind Israel's prolonged conflict with Gaza: The Israeli government's decisions regarding the conflict and ceasefire are being driven by political considerations, with prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeking to postpone elections, avoid a state commission of inquiry into the Oct. 7 massacre, and delay or terminate his trial on three criminal charges. At the same time, his far-right ministers are looking to capitalize on the war and the displacement of Gazans to implement their vision of resettling Gaza (Jon Allen, Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy).
Timing and international diplomacy: The Israeli government's decisions are also influenced by the interplay between military objectives and international diplomatic pressure during the upcoming visit of the U.S. president to the Middle East. This diplomatic engagement creates both an opportunity for ceasefire negotiations as well as a potential pressure point for escalation if a deal is not reached (analysts).
Public Opinion in Israel: The Israeli public's appetite for reoccupying Gaza has decreased significantly compared to the previous year. Only one-third of Israelis currently support Israel governing Gaza post-conflict, down from 40% in 2024. This shift in public opinion reflects growing hesitancy toward military intervention and prolonged conflict (analysts).
Governance and future of Gaza: Israeli opinions on who should govern Gaza after the conflict are divided, with preferences ranging from Israeli governance, the Palestinian Authority, Hamas, the United Nations, or the Gazans themselves. This internal debate reflects the complexity surrounding the future governance of Gaza post-conflict (analysts).

The Israeli government, helmed by Benjamin Netanyahu, has faced criticism over its opinion regarding a ceasefire with Hamas, with many viewing its prolonging of the conflict as politically motivated.
The ramifications of Israel's actions in Gaza have been the subject of strong condemnation by the United Nations, which has denounced Israeli practices as grave international crimes.
Canada, under the leadership of Mark Carney, has remained conspicuously silent on the ongoing abuses in Gaza, despite historically strong support for Israel and advocacy of law, human rights, and international humanitarian law.
A former Canadian Ambassador, Jon Allen, has expressed his opinion on these matters, highlighting the political manipulations behind Israel's prolonged conflict with Gaza and the potential impact on the region.
The media's coverage of the news from Gaza and the West Bank has not only focused on the ongoing violence but also delved into the political motivations behind Israel's decisions, as well as the shifting public opinion in Israel regarding the future of Gaza.
The court's role in this situation has been crucial, with both the Israeli court and an imagined international court of justice possibly examining the legality of Israel's actions in Gaza, as well as the ongoing trial of Netanyahu on three criminal charges.
Alongside Israel's actions and international reactions, the wider context of war-and-conflicts and politics in the Middle East has played a significant part in this situation, shaping the opinions of various parties and potentially influencing future outcomes.
In an unusual move, the Canadian government's apparent indifference to the ongoing crisis in Gaza stands in contrast to its previous stance on Israel's right to exist in peace and its commitment to upholding international law.
Witkoff, a key figure in U.S. diplomacy, had played a role in the previous ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, but his influence may wane as the current situation continues to unfold, not least due to the shifting political landscape and the Australian government's seemingly passive response to the crisis.