The pursuit of peace and protection of our shared planet has always driven Greenpeace’s core values.
What is happening in Gaza is not only a humanitarian disaster but a grave environmental, human rights, and moral crisis. For over 21 months, we have witnessed devastation on an unimaginable scale. Tens of thousands of civilians, many of them children, have been killed. Entire communities — including homes, hospitals, schools, places of worship and water systems — have been wiped out.
Gaza is facing a manufactured famine. Israel’s blockade has cut off food, water, and aid — intentionally starving over 2 million people. Children are dying from hunger while the world watches. This is not a natural disaster. It’s a crime against humanity, an intentional genocide unfolding before our eyes.
This crisis has also had catastrophic environmental impacts. Greenhouse gas emissions from Israeli military operations in Palestine have released more emissions than the total annual emissions of 36 countries. [1] Beyond the emissions, water systems, farmland, and infrastructure have been destroyed, and hazardous toxic waste and debris are dramatically fueling public health risks. This is an environmental catastrophe that will affect generations to come.
Environmental justice and human rights are not separate fights — they are one and the same. A livable planet demands the liberation of its people. There can be no green future on stolen land, and no justice while bombs rain down on innocent lives. That is why we at Greenpeace condemn all violations of international law and the collective punishment of civilians, whoever commits them.
To that end, we are urgently calling on the Canadian government and international leaders to take meaningful action to end the violence. We demand that Canada: support an immediate and permanent ceasefire; halt all arms sales and military cooperation with Israel; ensure the safe and unrestricted delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza; uphold international law and human rights; and actively work toward a just and lasting peace for both Palestinians and Israelis.
Dr. Tarek Loubani, Medical Director of Glia International and a member of Greenpeace Canada’s Board of Directors, is currently in Gaza providing emergency medical services to Palestinians at one of the last remaining hospitals in Gaza. In June, Greenpeace Canada projected a video of Tarek sharing eyewitness testimony, onto the facade of the Israeli consulate building in downtown Toronto.
Since 2023, Greenpeace activists around the world have also been raising their voices.
Greenpeace UK activists poured red biodegradable dye into the fountain of the United States Embassy to symbolize the bloodshed fueled by arms exports. They were joined by activists from Greenpeace France and Greenpeace Spain, who took similar actions at fountains in their countries, and Greenpeace Indonesia activists, who held a peaceful protest in front of the United States Embassy in Jakarta. Greenpeace Netherlands and Greenpeace International activists called on the Dutch government to take action for Palestine and carried a banner reading “Ceasefire Now”, while Greenpeace Italy activists unfurled a blood-red banner in the Acqua Paola fountain in Rome with the words “Stop the bloodbath in Gaza.”
These are just a few of the many actions happening around the world, and each represents a refusal to accept a world where some lives are treated as disposable. At Greenpeace Canada, we will continue to speak up for the planet and its people, and hold those in power accountable. Check out the recent blog by Yossi Cadan — our Managing Director — with his reflections on the Israeli siege and why Greenpeace is acting in solidarity with the people of Gaza.
It’s not uncommon to feel helpless in times like these, but there are things we can do.
Join us and demand that the Canadian government take action now with strong and comprehensive sanctions on Israel, including a complete, immediate arms embargo. You can do this by messaging Prime Minister Mark Carney on social media, sending him an email or calling his office. Or if you’d like to make a donation, we recommend supporting organizations like UNRWA.
Together, we can push our governments to stop this madness and push for peace, dignity, and safety for all.
