Canada has become indifferent to Palestinian suffering

In an Oct. 25 Global News segment, a journalist asked a Canadian diplomat if there was any Palestinian death toll in Gaza that would be too much; a “red line.” It’s a sickening and perverse question, as if there’s a penance in Palestinian blood that needs to be paid, and the Liberal government isn’t satisfied yet. But it’s a question that Canadians honestly need to ask of their government, because the answer doesn’t seem clear. Like on many other issues, this government tries to have it both ways when it comes to respect for international law and human rights. On the one hand, Canada’s foreign affairs website asserts that “Canada has been a consistently strong voice for the protection of human rights,” that Canada “believe in human dignity and a more just, inclusive, sustainable and safe world.” And Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland swear allegiance ad naseum to the rules-based international order, at least when it comes to Ukraine. Grace Batchoun is a Palestinian Canadian, and the co-founder Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East. Photograph courtesy of Grace Batchoun But Canadians who actually do believe in international law and human rights have watched in horror as a month has passed and the Trudeau government is still unwilling to press Israel to respect international law in its rampage of rage against Gaza. Regardless of its shock and horror at Hamas’ attack, Israel is not allowed to starve and strangle Gaza’s civilian population of 2.3 million. Regardless of its muscle and madness, Israel cannot punish Gaza’s civilian population for the crimes of Hamas. But this Canadian government—so vocal about Russia’s misconduct against Ukraine—loses its voice and will when it comes to Israel’s misconduct. On Oct. 27, Canada abstained on a United Nations General Assembly resolution calling for “an immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce” in Gaza. A simple enough ask that 120 countries found the will to support. Canada, however, was unable to muster the will to stand up for its professed values, choosing instead to abstain. The UN resolution didn’t choose sides. It called for a humanitarian truce; it called for respect for international law; it called for humanitarian aid to be allowed to enter Gaza; it called for the freeing of all hostages. The problem, it seems, was that the resolution was too even-handed for Canada. Our government, as made clear by its attempted amendment of the resolution, wanted the whole horrifying debacle since Oct. 7 blamed on Hamas, ignoring Israel’s 55-year-old military occupation of Palestinian land. So when Canada should have been pushing for the protection of Gaza civilians, it was playing petty political games at the UN. There is no time to waste. Israel’s relentless bombardment of the besieged Gaza Strip—one of the world’s most densely populated areas—has wrought dizzying levels of carnage. At latest check, more than 10,000 Palestinians have been killed, half of whom are children. Israel has destroyed more than 50 per cent of the total civilian infrastructure, and has driven over a million civilians out of their homes. Gaza’s health ministry said that without fuel, hospitals cannot continue to function. Similarly, the UN agency for Palestine refugees was forced to cease operations in Gaza due to shortages of fuel. There are about 50,000 pregnant women currently in Gaza with no access to hospitals. Roughly 160 women are estimated to give birth every day, according to the United Nations Population Fund. What is happening is huge, intentional, and horrible; something experts are terming a genocide. “We are sounding the alarm: there is an ongoing campaign by Israel resulting in crimes against humanity in Gaza … a risk of genocide against the Palestine people,” a group of seven United Nations human rights experts warned on Oct. 19. Canada is fooling nobody with its song and dance about the international rules-based order. Actions speak louder than words. Canada’s refusal to call for a ceasefire, and refusal to vote for the UN's humanitarian truce speak for themselves. “Is there a death toll that is too high for Canada? A red line?” asked the Global News journalist. The Canadian diplomat responded saying that Canada is watching for “criminal indifference and intentional disregard for human life.” If Canada actually were watching for such indifference and disregard, they would have seen that the red line was crossed weeks ago. The sad reality is that this Canadian government is indifferent to Palestinian suffering. This government has lost its humanity. There clearly is no red line, and Palestinians will ultimately pay the price. Grace Batchoun is a Palestinian Canadian, and the co-founder Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East. The Hill Times This piece originally appeared in Canadian Dimension.

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Canada has become indifferent to Palestinian suffering

Regardless of its shock and horror at Hamas’ attack, Israel is not allowed to starve and strangle Gaza’s civilian population of 2.3 million.

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