Canada voted in favour of a non-binding resolution at the United Nations on Tuesday that calls for 鈥渁n immediate humanitarian ceasefire鈥� between Israel and Hamas, in a move that broke with years of Canadian policy and shocked Jewish groups.
The vote at the UN General Assembly represents a shift in Canada鈥檚 long-standing position of siding with Israel on major resolutions at the international bodyand arguing the Jewish state is unfairly called out in global forums.
The Liberals say the carnage in the Gaza Strip led Canada to change tack.
鈥淲e must recognize that what is unfolding before our eyes will only enhance the cycle of violence,鈥� Foreign Affairs Minister M茅lanie Joly said Tuesday on Parliament Hill.
鈥淭his will not lead to the durable defeat of Hamas, which is necessary, and the threat that it poses to Israel. With the future of Israelis and Palestinians in mind, Canada is joining the international call for humanitarian ceasefire.鈥�
Canada has stated from the beginning that Israel has the right to defend itself, Joly said. 鈥淎nd how Israel defends itself matters. It matters for the future of both Israelis and Palestinians, and it matters for the future of the region,鈥� she added.
The latest war between Israel and Hamas began after the armed group鈥檚 militants launched a surprise attack in Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people, including hundreds of civilians, and taking about 240 people hostage.
Israel retaliated with airstrikes on the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, and cutting off its access to many essential supplies. Local authorities say more than 18,000 Palestinians have been killed.
鈥淭housands of children are now orphans,鈥� Joly said Tuesday.
鈥淐ountless Palestinian civilians in Gaza are suffering without water, food, fuel or medicine and their homes have been reduced to rubble.鈥�
The National Council of Canadian Muslims called the UN vote a 鈥渕ilestone鈥� that needs to translate into 鈥渢he reality of action and deeds.鈥�
Yet the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs said it was 鈥渄isgusted and frankly shocked鈥� by Canada鈥檚 stance, given that the motion does not explicitly call out Hamas for its crimes or urge the group to surrender.
鈥淐anada鈥檚 decision to support the resolution will undoubtedly lead to further hate being directed towards Jews here in Canada,鈥� the group鈥檚 head Shimon Koffler Fogel said in a statement.
Hamas 鈥渃annot be rewarded and left unaccountable,鈥� said the group, which represents Jewish federations across Canada.
Canada had lent its support to a U.S. amendment to the resolution Tuesday that would have explicitly condemned Hamas, but the amendment did not reach the support of two-thirds of the assembly that would have been required to adopt it.
UN ambassador Bob Rae told the assembly that Canada supports a humanitarian ceasefire, because it is a necessary step in calling for an end to the 鈥渃ontinuous鈥� suffering of Palestinian civilians.
鈥淲e are alarmed at the diminishing safe space for civilians in Gaza,鈥� he said, while noting Canada鈥檚 support for the unsuccessful amendment to the motion.
鈥淭he ongoing humanitarian crisis has weighed heavily in Canada鈥檚 decision to support this resolution.鈥�
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had said earlier Tuesday that Israel and Hamas must work toward 鈥渁 sustainable ceasefire.鈥� That would start withanother multi-day truce like one last month that allowed the flow of humanitarian aid and the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners.
Earlier Tuesday, Trudeau had issued a joint statement with his Australian and New Zealand counterparts, outlining a series of stances on the war.
The statement called for Hamas to release the hostages from its 鈥渉einous鈥� attack, and said the group is responsible for sexual violence and 鈥渦sing Palestinian civilians as human shields.鈥�
The leaders called for 鈥渟afe and unimpeded humanitarian access鈥� to the Gaza Strip and for Israel to stop its siege of the territory.
The statement said Hamas cannot be allowed to govern Gaza, while adding that Israel cannot reoccupy the territory or displace Palestinians.
Liberal MP Rob Oliphant, the parliamentary secretary to Joly, said prior to the UN vote that Canada is trying toput pressure on both parties, while adding that Hamas needs to surrender.
鈥淐easefires are always negotiated. So Canada has to push, has to prod,鈥� he told reporters.
鈥淚 think the three countries hit the right tone, to move it one step further,鈥� he said of the statement.
Trudeau also said he had a 鈥渓ong and detailed conversation鈥� with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, hours ahead of the UN vote.
In a year-end interview with The Canadian Press on Monday, Trudeau had said there is no perfect balance for his government to strike in this conflict, given the heightened emotions.
鈥淭his line does not exist,鈥� he said in French. 鈥淭here is too much pain 鈥� to be able to find a mythical fine line of a balanced position.鈥�
Trudeau added in that Monday interview that Ottawa鈥檚 stance on the conflict has a limited effect in the region, so his government has focused on pushing for humanitarian aid and a viable two-state solution.
鈥淚t is about time the Liberals call for a ceasefire. Hundreds of thousands of Canadians have advocated for weeks for the Liberals to shift their position,鈥� said NDP foreign affairs critic Heather McPherson, adding that meaningful action must now follow.
鈥淚t鈥檚 up to the Liberals to explain whether they are calling on Israel and Hamas to agree to a ceasefire today or whether this is just lip service towards Liberal donors fleeing the party because of the government鈥檚 lack of moral courage.鈥�
The Conservatives would not directly speak to Canada鈥檚 vote at the United Nations.
鈥淲e call for an immediate end to the conflict by having Hamas turn over hostages and all weapons and surrendering unconditionally,鈥� a spokesman for the party said. 鈥淭hat will allow for perpetrators to be held accountable, civilian rebuilding and talks towards a permanent peace to the benefit of all.鈥�
Deputy Conservative leader Melissa Lantsman accused the Liberals of 鈥済aslighting for votes鈥� in a social media post, saying the move was 鈥渢he complete opposite of that statement in the afternoon.鈥�
Liberal MP Anthony Housefather, a strident supporter of Israel, said on social media that he disagreed with his government鈥檚 vote: 鈥淎ny cessation of hostilities requires Hamas to release all hostages and lay down arms and surrender. Hamas, a terrorist organization, is entirely responsible for starting a war.鈥�
Advocates for Israeli hostages still held in Gaza were on Parliament Hill earlier in the day to press the government to impose sanctions on individual members of Hamas.
The Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights has presented a 119-page document that asks the Liberals to sanction specific people affiliated with Hamas, which Canada has deemed a terrorist organization since 2002.
That designation is not enough, the group is arguing, noting that countries like the United Kingdom have also sanctioned individuals.
Irwin Cotler, the founder of the advocacy group and a former Liberal justice minister, said the release of hostages needs to be a 鈥渟tand-alone obligation鈥� on both legal and moral bases, 鈥渦nrelated to wherever you may stand on the political issues.鈥�
The document lists 44 people it claims to be key to be affiliated with Hamas, some of whom have been sanctioned by Australia, the U.S. and the U.K.
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