October 18, 2024

Dear Prime Minister,

We, the undersigned humanitarian, religious, community and civil society organizations from all over Canada, express profound alarm at the rapidly worsening situation in northern Gaza.  Civilians are being burned alive in an ongoing campaign of violence that has reached unimaginable levels of brutality. The humanitarian infrastructure has completely collapsed – no clean water is available, with 37 water and sanitation facilities destroyed and more than 220 severely damaged. Waterborne diseases are spreading rapidly, endangering children’s lives disproportionately. Israeli airstrikes continue to indiscriminately target civilian shelters, including a UN school where at least 20 people were killed, and an aid distribution center in Jabalia where 10 others lost their lives. The siege has already pushed the death toll to over 42,000, a systematic decimation of Palestinian communities. A recent Israeli airstrike on a hospital tent camp has further exacerbated the crisis, resulting in significant casualties and trapping thousands in dire conditions, while the ongoing siege relentlessly claims more lives and deepens the humanitarian catastrophe. 

Canada cannot remain a passive observer as these atrocities unfold. The time to act is now, to hold Israel accountable and safeguard the lives of innocent civilians. In light of the severe and escalating violence in northern Gaza, we call for the following immediate actions:

  1. Issue an unequivocal condemnation of Israel’s military assault on northern Gaza, denouncing the deliberate targeting of schools, shelters, and critical infrastructure, including water and sanitation facilities. Civilians are being burned alive, children are being killed in their classrooms, and families are being massacred in UN shelters. This inhumane violence demands an unreserved and immediate condemnation.
  1. Expel the Israeli ambassador from Canada as a direct and uncompromising diplomatic response to the egregious human rights violations and the continued targeting of civilians in northern Gaza. This decisive action will signal that Canada does not tolerate the systematic slaughter of innocent civilians and the destruction of vital infrastructure.
  1. Impose sanctions on Benjamin Nitenayahu and Israeli officials directly involved in the genocide, for their ongoing and blatant violations of international law, targeting of civilians and destruction of essential infrastructure.

Canada must act without delay. Inaction in the face of genocide is complicity. We urge you to take immediate action to stop the atrocities in northern Gaza, and to uphold Canada’s commitment to human rights. Anything less will be seen as a moral failure in confronting one of the gravest crises of our time.

Sincerely,


The Signatories

  1. Canadian Muslim Public Affairs Council (CMPAC)
  2. Canadian Muslim Civil Liberties Association 
  3. The United Church of Canada
  4. Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME)
  5. Justice For All Canada
  6. Independent Jewish Voices
  7. Hikma Public Affairs Council
  8. Just Peace Advocates/ Mouvement Pour Une Paix Juste 
  9. Mennonite Church Canada Palestine-Israel Network
  10. Fawz Community Services Network
  11. Institute for Research of Genocide Canada
  12. Muslim Council of Calgary
  13. Tawheed Community Centre 
  14. Niagara Movement for Justice in Palestine-Israel (NMJPI)
  15. Kanata Muslim Association
  16. JEIM 
  17. Ibrahim Jame Mosque
  18. ICC Brossard
  19. Bosnian Islamic Centre of Hamilton
  20. Iraqı Turkoman Federation
  21. Downtown Muslim Professional Network
  22. Canadian Palestinian Association of Manitoba 
  23. Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East, Saskatoon Chapter
  24. IslamicFamily (IFSSA)
  25. Academics for Palestine-Concordia
  26. Queen’s University Muslim Student Association (QUMSA)
  27. North London Islamic Centre
  28. Egyptian Canadian Home Organization E.C.H.O.
  29. Canadian Sufi Cultural Centre 
  30. Pakistan Canada Association – Al Masjid Al Jamia Vancouver 
  31. Noor Cultural Centre
  32. Sarnians4Palestine 
  33. Federation of Iraqı Turkoman 
  34. JFP
  35. Islamic Social Services Association
  36. Our Golden Age 
  37. Scarborough Muslim Cultural Centre 
  38. Independent Jewish Voices – Calgary Chapter
  39. Halton Islamic Association 
  40. Mission City Islamic Centre Society,  BC.
  41. Spadina Fort-York for Palestine
  42. Think for Actions 
  43. Palestinian House Association (PHA) – Calgary
  44. Toronto Centre for Palestine
  45. Solidarity with Palestine – St. John’s
  46. Anarres Natural Health
  47. Mennonite Church Manitoba Palestine Israel Network
  48. Jerrahi Sufi Order of Canada
  49. Healthy Muslim Families (HMF)
  50. Ar-Rashaad Centre
  51. Muslim Association of Brantford 
  52. Canadian Muslim Healthcare Network (CMHN) 
  53. Pakistan Canada Association 
  54. Canadians Against Oppression And Persecution (CAOP)
  55. Dilmurat
  56. MCCPIN
  57. Action for Palestine
  58. Palestine-Israel Network, Mennonite Church Alberta
  59. Pickering Palestinian Association
  60. Toronto East End for Action
  61. Canadian Palestinian Social Association of London, Ontario