Israel has imposed a complete blockade on Gaza. You will not have electricity or water, just destruction. You want hell, you’ll get hell.

- Ghassan Alian, Head of COGAT (The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Occupied Territories, Israeli Ministry of Defence)

For over a year, the world has witnessed unfathomable levels of death and destruction in the occupied Gaza Strip. Israel’s brutal onslaught against Palestinians in Gaza has killed tens of thousands of people, wiped out entire families, and flattened residential neighbourhoods.

Israel has destroyed critical infrastructure and forcibly displaced 1.9 million Palestinians, over 90% of the population of the Gaza Strip, causing an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe.

Amnesty International has investigated Israel’s conduct in Gaza and the evidence it has collected and analysed provides a sufficient basis to conclude that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza following October 7, 2023.  

During Israel’s military operations in Gaza, which began following the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, Israel adopted policies and took actions aimed at causing irreparable harm to Palestinians in Gaza. These include relentless bombardment which has killed and injured tens of thousands and caused unprecedented destruction, forced displacement of 90% of the population, and denial and restriction of essential services and of life-saving goods and humanitarian aid. This has led to the collapse of the water, sanitation, food production and healthcare systems in Gaza. 

Amnesty found that, between October 2023 and July 2024, Israel committed acts prohibited under the Genocide Convention and did so with the specific intent to destroy Palestinians in Gaza. These acts include killings, inflicting serious physical or mental harm to members of the protected group and deliberately creating conditions of life calculated to bring about the physical destruction of Palestinians in Gaza.

Canada’s has made some positive diplomatic statements, including:

     • supporting the call for a ceasefire by all parties
     • supporting UNRWA, including the restoration of funding
     • committing to uphold decisions by international courts
     • calling on Israel to respond substantively to the International Court of Justice advisory
        opinion on the unlawfulness of the occupation
     • opposing the forcible displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, the re-occupation of
        Gaza, any reduction in territory, and any use of siege or blockade

While Canada has taken some measures to limit the export of military goods to Israel, both direct and indirect transfers continue.

Authorization of new export permits for transfers of military goods to Israel was reportedly paused as of January 8, 2024, though no official “notice to exporters” was issued. In September 2024, the Minister of Foreign Affairs announced that “around 30” of the existing permits were suspended, however it is believed that at least 180 export permits are still active. 

Arms sales to Israel have increased in recent years, with 2023 (the latest year for which information is publicly available) marking the highest sales to date. Between October 7, 2023 and December 6, 2023 alone, $28.5 million of new military exports were approved – more than all the permits issued in 2022.

Canadian parts, components and other military materials are also exported to the USA, which in turn are integrated into US military equipment such as F-35 aircraft supplied to the Israel Defense Force.