Thursday, October 9, 2025 – CMPAC welcomes today’s announcement of a ceasefire agreement that offers a moment of hope for the people of Gaza after two years of violence that has reached the scale of genocide. If fully implemented, this agreement could bring much-needed relief to families who have endured relentless bombardment, forced displacement, destruction of homes and infrastructure, severe shortages of food and medicine, and the loss of loved ones. After months of mass civilian casualties, this pause in state violence represents a chance to save lives, reunite families, and allow the entry of humanitarian aid. It is also a reminder of the extraordinary resilience of the Palestinian people, who continue to persevere in the face of systematic attacks and deprivation. CMPAC calls on the Canadian government to push for immediate humanitarian relief to Palestinians and to exert sustained pressure on the Israeli government to follow through with the full agreement.
At the same time, this moment of hope must not lead to complacency. While the ceasefire agreement provides an opportunity to reduce immediate suffering, it addresses only a fraction of the structural injustices that have long defined life under occupation. Israel has repeatedly violated past ceasefire agreements, maintained blockades, and obstructed aid deliveries, perpetuating collective punishment contrary to international norms and law. Amnesty International warns that “a temporary pause is not enough” and that genuine peace requires a full end to occupation, apartheid, and the ongoing siege of Gaza. The Canadian governments must press for the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces, unimpeded humanitarian access, the right of displaced Palestinians to return to their homes, and the release of all Palestinians prisoners arbitrarily detained under occupation.
This ceasefire agreement cannot become a substitute for justice or a cover for delay. True justice must be rooted in accountability, rights, and self-determination. Israel’s conduct must not be shielded from scrutiny and accountability: allegations of war crimes & genocide, forced displacement, targeting of civilians, and obstruction of aid must be investigated by international bodies and pursued through mechanisms such as the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court. This moment must tie into the broader struggle for Palestinian liberation, equality, and the end of Israeli occupation and apartheid.
CMPAC stands in solidarity with the people of Gaza, with Palestinian families who continue to endure collective punishment, and with communities across the diaspora calling for justice. The ceasefire agreement must hold. It must also open a path toward ending occupation, restoring rights, and building a future in which Palestinians live in freedom and dignity.
