Demand Immediate Action: Cancel Existing Arms Permits to Israel Now!

A government statement from March confirms that Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly has decided not to cancel existing arms export permits to Israel, despite the clear intent of the Palestine motion passed by Parliament on March 18. Help us demand that all existing permits for weapons to Israel issued before January 8 be immediately revoked, even if they are classified as “non-lethal”.

When it comes to supplying weapons to Israel, Canada must take a comprehensive approach and ensure it has no complicity in the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

According to an email Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly's office sent to Reuters news agency, there is still a reluctance to enforce a complete ban on arms transfers to Israel. Several human rights groups have rightly highlighted the urgency and necessity of fully respecting the intent of the Palestine motion adopted by Parliament on March 18, which calls for a comprehensive embargo on all arms exports to Israel.

Excluding arms export permits issued before January 8 from this ban contradicts the motion and the values it was meant to uphold. Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly justified this decision by stating “There are no open permits for exports of lethal goods to Israel”. Firstly, it is crucial to recognize that supplying any form of weaponry, whether lethal or non-lethal, to regions where crimes against humanity are occurring represents complicity in these atrocities. Second, Canadian law bars the export of weapons if they could be used in 'a serious violation of international humanitarian law' or 'serious acts of violence against women and children'.

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly also said that “suspending all open permits would have important implications for Canada and its allies”. Please note that economic considerations should never supersede our ethical and legal obligations, especially when it comes to preventing human rights violations and safeguarding civilian lives in the middle of an active genocide.

This unfortunate introduction of a loophole after the motion’s adoption dilutes the effectiveness of the policy. The gravity of this genocide demands a firm stance against all forms of arms exports to Israel, as even non-lethal weaponry can contribute to the perpetuation of violence and harm against innocent Palestinian civilians.

Although the freeze on new arms export permits to Israel since January 8 is a positive step, it must be accompanied by concrete actions to ensure full compliance with Canada's export regime and international obligations. The continuation of arms exports under previously approved permits violates the democratic mandate set by Parliament and undermines Canada's commitment to upholding the Arms Trade Treaty.

Considering the ICJ's recent provisional measures calling on Israel to prevent its military from violating the rights of Palestinians in Gaza, allowing Canadian arms exports to persist under existing permits risks endorsing actions that contravene international humanitarian law and worsen the situation in Gaza.

As a Canadian, I expect my government to respect international humanitarian law. I join millions of people in urging you to take immediate action to cancel all existing permits for weapons to Israel prior to January 8.

We call on Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly to prioritize human rights and the rule of law over economic interests by revoking existing permits and enforcing a comprehensive embargo on arms exports to Israel.