It's high time for Canada to vigorously urge the Israeli administration to adhere to international legal standards.
In March, the Netanyahu-led Israeli government, despite previously agreeing to a ceasefire with Hamas backed by the US and the Biden administration, electrified the tenuous truce. Hamas was offered new terms, but they ultimately rejected them, prompting Israel to impose a full-on siege on Gaza, obstructing the entry of essential supplies like food, water, and medicine. The Gaza Strip, home to over 2.1 million Palestinians, has been subjected to ongoing low-intensity but deadly attacks by drones and rockets, causing the deaths of countless men, women, and children, as well as Hamas militants. This brings the death toll to over 52,000, with a staggering 70% believed to be women and children.
Should all the hostages not be released in the next fortnight, the Israeli security cabinet plans to launch a major offensive in Gaza. They also intend to displace the entire Gazan population into a 20% strip of land in the south.
The UN Human Rights Commission has released a damning report on Israel's practices, accusing them of "relentless destruction of life in Gaza through attacks by land, air, and sea." The report also criticizes Israel for withholding essential humanitarian aid, branding these actions as grave international crimes.
In 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) mandated Israel to ensure unimpeded access to humanitarian assistance for Gazans. The UN experts urging member states to intervene to stop the bloodshed and ensure accountability for perpetrators.
However, Israel received criticism for its response to the report, labelling it biased and calling for a focus on Hamas's October 2023 attacks on Israel and the Israeli hostages still in Gaza custody.
Polls in Israel suggest that 70% of Israeli citizens prefer a ceasefire to secure the hostages' release, and 70% want Netanyahu to step down and call elections. A notable number of Israeli Defense Force (IDF) reservists, essential to Israel's military efforts, are hesitant to return to duty after 19 months of war, Israel's longest in history.
Many experts agree that the recent cabinet decisions prolonging the war arepolitically motivated. Netanyahu's objectives include postponing elections, avoiding an inquiry into his role in a massacre, and dampening his ongoing trial on three criminal charges. His far-right ministers seek to exploit the war for the forced displacement of Gazans to incite resettlement in Gaza, with some expressing a desire for voluntary or forced deportations.
In light of these events, it's long overdue for Canada, historically supportive of Israel's right to exist and ensure self-defense alongside human rights and adherence to international law, to acknowledge the abuses occurring in Gaza and the West Bank, both illegal territories, and call on the Israeli government to observe international law.
Jon Allen, a former Canadian Ambassador to Israel and Spain, currently a Senior Fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, shares this perspective.
Opinion articles emanate from the author's perspectives and judgments of facts, data, and events. [More details]
Additional Insights:- Israel's ultimate goal is to defeat and annihilate Hamas completely, with the war showing no signs of abating even if hostage release deals are reached.- The Palestinian Authority and UNRWA have no role in Gaza post-conflict, as per Israel's stance, but Hamas officials have suggested they might step down, despite refusing to disarm.- The Arab League and European Union have spoken out against the ongoing hostilities and urged a ceasefire and humanitarian aid to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.- The United States supports Israel's right to self-defense and holds Hamas accountable for the continuation of hostilities while demanding immediate hostage release and adherence to international law.
- The Canadian government's opinion should be expressed regarding the ongoing conflict in Gaza, given the gravity of the situation and the potential violations of international law by the Israeli government.
- Considering the UN Human Rights Commission's damning report on Israel's practices in Gaza, it's crucial for Canada to strongly condemn these actions as grave international crimes.
- In light of the recent cabinet decisions in Israel, it's essential to question the political motivations behind them, as many experts believe these decisions are prolonging the war.
- Overall, it is crucial for the Israeli government to prioritize the release of hostages, the observance of international law, and the avoidance of military actions that disproportionately affect civilians in Gaza.
- The media should provide comprehensive coverage of the ongoing situation in Gaza, including the perspectives of experts and the consequences of the Israeli government's actions on the civilian population.
- In the midst of the war in Gaza, it is necessary for Canada to uphold its commitment to human rights and international law, and to express its opinion on the situation in Gaza and the West Bank, two territories that are currently being disputed.
