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The gravity of the situation demands that we speak up. As an MP, I have a particular obligation to do so on behalf of my constituents. As I’ve written to the Minister, what is too often left unsaid is that the humanitarian horror has been caused by Israel’s collective punishment and wanton destruction of the Palestinian people. There is no world in which the Hamas terrorist attack of Oct. 7 justifies emaciated Palestinian kids. 

The world watched that heinous attack on innocent Israeli civilians in horror. And ever since, we’ve watched Israel’s mass and indiscriminate killing of innocent Palestinian civilians, forced displacement, intentional starvation, and wholesale destruction of health, educational, religious and cultural facilities — all while Israeli leaders dehumanize the Palestinian people.

To salvage his far-right government, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu abandoned a ceasefire deal that would have brought hostages home. And the Israeli government and military has abandoned any pretense of proportionality or lawfulness, acting with impunity in the face of international outcry.

The Netanyahu government starves Palestinians by blocking essential humanitarian aid, in defiance of the International Court of Justice. It razes entire communities, expands illegal settlements in the West Bank, kills and bars journalists, kills civilians waiting for food aid and suggests Palestinians should be further displaced to Sudan.  

In a recent interview, Netanyahu told us that Israel intends to take over Gaza, and the Knesset recently voted in support of further annexation.

It is past time for the world to act.

The ICJ will make the final legal determination, but it’s now apparent we’ve watched a genocide unfold. In its recent “Our Genocide” report, the Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem has come to the same “unequivocal conclusion that Israel is taking coordinated action to intentionally destroy Palestinian society in the Gaza strip.”

At a minimum, Israel’s actions amount to ethnic cleansing and gross violations of international humanitarian law. As such, we have an obligation to act forcefully.

In May, Prime Minister Mark Carney wrote that “we will not stand by” and committed to “further concrete actions” should Israel not cease its offensive or enable the flow of aid. It is now September, and Netanyahu’s radical government has not changed course. 

Canadians overwhelmingly expect our government to follow through with concrete actions.

To start, we cannot be complicit in Israel’s crimes. 

The Canadian government must be transparent about the nature and effectiveness of our existing arms embargo, including what has shipped since January 2024. We must also ensure that the arms embargo applies to the indirect shipment of parts and components as well as any procurement from Israeli suppliers. 

Until such time as the Israeli administration changes, we should exhibit the same leadership that former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney showed in addressing the human rights catastrophe in South Africa. Further sanctions against Netanyahu and his cabinet are warranted. 

Second, we must proactively advance peace.

It is important that Canada will recognize the State of Palestine at the United Nations in September. But at this time, it also remains a mostly symbolic gesture.

To address the immediate crisis in front of us, a multilateral peacekeeping force is necessary, established either via UN Resolution 377A or outside UN processes. Canada should engage other countries to help establish a peacekeeping presence that would facilitate the distribution of critical humanitarian aid, help secure an overdue ceasefire and release of hostages, and assist in ensuring peace and security for any future free and fair elections.

I understand that this is a difficult feat and that Canada will need to collaborate as much as lead. But absent American action to pressure Israel to end its war, it’s hard to see any other path to peace.

Lastly, there is no easy solution to the divisions here at home unless peace is secured overseas. It’s difficult when anger and grief motivate our thinking, whether it is with respect to the Oct. 7 massacre and remaining hostages or the complete destruction of Gaza. Still, we must remind Canadians that it is wrong to hold Jewish neighbours responsible for the actions of Israel just as it is wrong to equate criticism of the Israeli government with antisemitism. We must guard both security and the right to protest in our free and democratic society. 

More than anything, we need peace. To realize peace, Canada and our allies need to show leadership through action.