The Canadian Muslim Public Affairs Council (CMPAC) and 75+ other organizations have united to address the urgent humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The joint letter to Members of Parliament emphasizes the critical need for Canadian intervention to prevent a potential military invasion of Rafah by Israel. Signed by a coalition of concerned groups and individuals, the letter urges MPs to (1) denounce any such invasion, (2) support a bilateral arms embargo against Israel, (3) call for independent international investigations into war crimes, and (4) push for sanctions against Israeli officials and all parties involved in the ongoing genocide of Palestinians. Read the full letter below:
April 26, 2024
Dear Member of Parliament,
We, the undersigned supporting organizations, groups, and members of your constituency, write to you regarding the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza and the urgent need for heightened Canadian engagement and leadership. We urge you to take immediate action to prevent a potential exacerbation of the already dire situation in Gaza with a pre-determined military invasion of Rafah.
Recent reports from credible international bodies such as the United Nations, World Health Organization, Doctors Without Borders (MSF), and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) paint a grim picture of the conditions in Gaza. The statistics are staggering—with over 34,670 civilians killed, 70% of whom are women and children, and the displacement of 1.9 million individuals, or more than 85% of Gaza’s population. This humanitarian catastrophe is further compounded by extensive damage to civilian infrastructure, including critical healthcare facilities, blockage of essential supplies and limitation of humanitarian aid.
Of grave concern are the recent reports of mass graves of over 300 bodies discovered at Nasser Hospital in Gaza, shortly after similar findings at Al Shifa Hospital. These revelations are deeply troubling and demand immediate action from the Canadian government.
The situation in Rafah, the southern region of Gaza, is particularly alarming, with over a million displaced Palestinians enduring serious humanitarian conditions. The looming threat of invasion of Rafah would precipitate further war crimes with the ethnic cleansing of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. Despite these disconcerting prospects, many Canadian MPs have either remained silent, hesitated to take meaningful action, or even expressed support for the ongoing atrocities in Gaza.
We urge you to take immediate actions to address Canada’s role in this ongoing genocide. It is imperative that our government unequivocally condemns the war crimes perpetrated by Israel and take decisive steps to prevent a genocide. Therefore, we demand the following from you as an elected member of the parliament:
- Make a public statement denouncing any potential invasion of Rafah to prevent the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians;
- Support a bilateral arms embargo against Israel to end Canadian complicity in the genocide in Gaza;
- Call for independent international investigations into numerous war crimes including the recently discovered mass graves in Gaza and the use of starvation as a means for collective punishment of Palestinians; and
- Call the Canadian government to impose sanctions against Israeli officials and all parties implicated in the ongoing genocide of Palestinians and crimes against humanity, as determined by the International Court of Justice, International Criminal Court, European courts or North American courts.
We implore you to leverage your influence to denounce the looming threat of a Rafah invasion and to compel the Canadian government to take meaningful action to end its complicity in the ongoing genocide in Gaza. On the international stage, Canada must stand firmly on the right side of history by taking the Israeli government to account for its war crimes.
Sincerely,
The Signatories
1. Canadian Muslim Public Affairs Council (CMPAC)
2. Canadians For Palestine
3. Justice For All Canada
4. BIC Hamilton
5. DawaNet
6. ALHIJRA ISLAMIC SCHOOL
7. Islamic Social Service Association
8. Islamic Society of Ajax
9. Al Huda Institute Canada
10. Think for Actions
11. Watermelon Foundation for Justice
12. Roads to Liberation
13. Downtown Muslim Professional Network
14. Naturopathic Doctors for Environmental and Social Trust
15. York Region Muslims
16. Muslim Women of Brant
17. Jerrahi Sufi Order of Canada
18. Just Peace Advocates
19. Zesty Market
20. Atlantic Canada Palestinian Society – Halifax
21. Ontario Palestinian Rights Association
22. JEIM
23. Muslim Council of Calgary
24. CPSA London
25. Palestinian Association of Brantford (PAB)
26. North london Islamic Centre
27. Muslim Association of Brantford
28. AJ Islamic center
29. Ibrahim Jame Mosque
30. United Network for Justice and Peace in Palestine and Israel (UNJPPI)
31. Outaouais Islamic Centre
32. Palestinian House Association – Calgary
33. Independent Jewish Voices
34. Ottawa Forum on Israel Palestine
35. Islamic Information society of Calgary
36. Victoria Peace Coalition
37. NorthSurrey4Palestine
38. IslamicFamily (IFSSA)
39. Palestinian and Jewish Unity (PAJU)
40. Muslim Association of Woodstock
41. Calgary Immigrant Support Society
42. Legal Centre for Palestine (LCP)
43. Global care for Humanity
44. CJPME Saskatoon chapter
45. Palestine House-Toronto
46. Healthcare Alliance for Palestine
47. Calgary Palestinian Council (CPC)
48. Oakville-Halton 4 Palestine (OH4P)
49. Justice for Palestinians – Calgary
50. Healthy Muslim Families
51. Canadian Muslim Healthcare Network
52. Palestine Solidarity Regina
53. Hikma Public Affairs Council
54. Jews Say No To Genocide
55. Islamic Schools Association of Canada
56. Pickering Palestinian Association
57. Solidarity with Palestine, St. John’s
58. Rising Tide Squamish
59. Sea to Sky to Palestine
60. Red Deer Islamic Center
61. The United Church of Canada
62. Whitby Muslims
63. Durham Region 4 Palestine
64. Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME)
65. Independent Jewish Voices (Calgary)
66. Action 4 Palestine Healthcare Workers Coalition
67. Mennonite Church Canada PIN
68. Independent Jewish Voices-Toronto & York Region
69. Milton Palestine Action Committee (MPAC)
70. Mennonite Church Alberta Palestine-Israel Network
71. Tarbiyah Elementary school
72. Milton Quran Institute
73. Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights fraser Valley
74. The Canadian BDS Coalition
75. Mississauga-Streetsville for Palestine
76. Canadian Friends of Sabeel
77. Human Concern International
