Canada voted in favour of a non-binding resolution at the United Nations on Tuesday that calls for B次元官网网址渁n immediate humanitarian ceasefireB次元官网网址� 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 CanadaB次元官网网址檚 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.
B次元官网网址淲e must recognize that what is unfolding before our eyes will only enhance the cycle of violence,B次元官网网址� Foreign Affairs Minister M茅lanie Joly said Tuesday on Parliament Hill.
B次元官网网址淭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.B次元官网网址�
Canada has stated from the beginning that Israel has the right to defend itself, Joly said. B次元官网网址淎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,B次元官网网址� she added.
The latest war between Israel and Hamas began after the armed groupB次元官网网址檚 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.
B次元官网网址淭housands of children are now orphans,B次元官网网址� Joly said Tuesday.
B次元官网网址淐ountless Palestinian civilians in Gaza are suffering without water, food, fuel or medicine and their homes have been reduced to rubble.B次元官网网址�
The National Council of Canadian Muslims called the UN vote a B次元官网网址渕ilestoneB次元官网网址� that needs to translate into B次元官网网址渢he reality of action and deeds.B次元官网网址�
Yet the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs said it was B次元官网网址渄isgusted and frankly shockedB次元官网网址� by CanadaB次元官网网址檚 stance, given that the motion does not explicitly call out Hamas for its crimes or urge the group to surrender.
B次元官网网址淐anadaB次元官网网址檚 decision to support the resolution will undoubtedly lead to further hate being directed towards Jews here in Canada,B次元官网网址� the groupB次元官网网址檚 head Shimon Koffler Fogel said in a statement.
Hamas B次元官网网址渃annot be rewarded and left unaccountable,B次元官网网址� 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 B次元官网网址渃ontinuousB次元官网网址� suffering of Palestinian civilians.
B次元官网网址淲e are alarmed at the diminishing safe space for civilians in Gaza,B次元官网网址� he said, while noting CanadaB次元官网网址檚 support for the unsuccessful amendment to the motion.
B次元官网网址淭he ongoing humanitarian crisis has weighed heavily in CanadaB次元官网网址檚 decision to support this resolution.B次元官网网址�
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had said earlier Tuesday that Israel and Hamas must work toward B次元官网网址渁 sustainable ceasefire.B次元官网网址� 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 B次元官网网址渉einousB次元官网网址� attack, and said the group is responsible for sexual violence and B次元官网网址渦sing Palestinian civilians as human shields.B次元官网网址�
The leaders called for B次元官网网址渟afe and unimpeded humanitarian accessB次元官网网址� 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.
B次元官网网址淐easefires are always negotiated. So Canada has to push, has to prod,B次元官网网址� he told reporters.
B次元官网网址淚 think the three countries hit the right tone, to move it one step further,B次元官网网址� he said of the statement.
Trudeau also said he had a B次元官网网址渓ong and detailed conversationB次元官网网址� 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.
B次元官网网址淭his line does not exist,B次元官网网址� he said in French. B次元官网网址淭here is too much pain B次元官网网址� to be able to find a mythical fine line of a balanced position.B次元官网网址�
Trudeau added in that Monday interview that OttawaB次元官网网址檚 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.
B次元官网网址淚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,B次元官网网址� said NDP foreign affairs critic Heather McPherson, adding that meaningful action must now follow.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 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 governmentB次元官网网址檚 lack of moral courage.B次元官网网址�
The Conservatives would not directly speak to CanadaB次元官网网址檚 vote at the United Nations.
B次元官网网址淲e call for an immediate end to the conflict by having Hamas turn over hostages and all weapons and surrendering unconditionally,B次元官网网址� a spokesman for the party said. B次元官网网址淭hat will allow for perpetrators to be held accountable, civilian rebuilding and talks towards a permanent peace to the benefit of all.B次元官网网址�
Deputy Conservative leader Melissa Lantsman accused the Liberals of B次元官网网址済aslighting for votesB次元官网网址� in a social media post, saying the move was B次元官网网址渢he complete opposite of that statement in the afternoon.B次元官网网址�
Liberal MP Anthony Housefather, a strident supporter of Israel, said on social media that he disagreed with his governmentB次元官网网址檚 vote: B次元官网网址淎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.B次元官网网址�
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 B次元官网网址渟tand-alone obligationB次元官网网址� on both legal and moral bases, B次元官网网址渦nrelated to wherever you may stand on the political issues.B次元官网网址�
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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