As the devastation in Gaza reaches unimaginable levels, we continue to hear the same hollow refrains: “It’s war — terrible things happen,” or “Yes, the Israeli military may be going too far, but what about Hamas?”
These arguments are not only morally bankrupt but also dangerous. They attempt to normalize atrocity, to dress war crimes in the language of inevitability. But war does not give a blank cheque to violate human rights. It does not legalize the starvation of a people, the bombing of hospitals, or the killing of tens of thousands of civilians.
Let’s be clear: what is happening in Gaza is not “just war.” It is a systematic assault on an entire civilian population. It is genocide in real time.
Nearly two million Palestinians are being deliberately starved. Hundreds of thousands have been forcibly displaced. Entire neighbourhoods have been wiped off the map. Medical infrastructure has been obliterated. And over 59,000 Palestinians have been killed — the majority of them women and children.
None of this is collateral damage. These are the outcomes of deliberate choices by a military force, under orders from the Israeli government, with the support of much of Israeli society. And these acts are not only morally indefensible, they are violations of international law.
Yet even now, many people — including in Canada — tend to deflect. They blame Hamas. They obscure the truth with “both sides” rhetoric. But after 21 months of destruction on this scale, any attempt to divert attention from the Israeli government and military is an effort to protect the perpetrators.
And Canada is not a bystander.
This week, Canada joined 24 other countries in calling for an end to the war in Gaza. The joint statement condemned the civilian death toll, the targeting of aid distribution, and the mass displacement of Palestinians as violations of international humanitarian law (CBC News, July 2025).
But when millions face the immediate risk of death from starvation, words are not enough; we need urgent action. While I write this blog, in Gaza, people are collapsing on the streets, and babies lack enough formula to reach their first birthday.
Canada continues to supply arms to Israel. It has failed to impose sanctions and has not supported a comprehensive arms embargo. Additionally, it has not endorsed international accountability mechanisms with real enforcement. Without tangible actions, Canada’s words lack credibility, and its complicity grows deeper.
This is not a moment for symbolic gestures. This is a moment for moral clarity.
If Canada is serious about ending this atrocity, it must act:
- Immediately halt all arms exports to Israel
- End all military trade and cooperation with Israel
- Sanction individuals and institutions responsible for war crimes
- Respect and uphold Canada’s commitments under international human rights law
Gaza is not an abstract debate. It is not a foreign policy puzzle. It is a crime in progress — and Canada is helping to sustain it.
We cannot hide behind statements while the bombs keep falling.
If Canada does not move from rhetoric to action, it remains complicit.
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 take action by signing the petition, messaging Prime Minister Mark Carney on social media, sending him an email, or calling his office. Or if you’d like to donate, we recommend supporting organizations like UNRWA.
#GazaGenocide #NotJustWar #EndTheSiege #WarCrimes #CrimesAgainstHumanity
