Gaza: Canada's role in supporting peace and humanitarian efforts
As we watch the horrors continuing to unfold in Gaza, MCC mourns the immense loss of life and continues to call on world leaders, including the Canadian government, to act. We oppose the use of violence as a response to injustice or as retaliation against violence, including acts by Hamas and the Israeli military. We urge world leaders to uphold and enforce the UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate and permanent ceasefire, as well as the expansion of humanitarian aid, and to hold all parties to the same standard of international law regarding the protection of civilians and respect for human rights. Join us in prayer for all those who have been affected by the violence.
The latest escalation of violence in the region – beginning on October 7, 2023 – included rocket and ground attacks by Hamas into Israel, killing 1,200, and the capturing of people, actions which are unethical and illegal under international law. The Israeli government then responded by bombing population centres in Gaza; shutting off power, water and fuel; severely restricting humanitarian aid, forcibly displacing people in Gaza, and bombing border crossings into and out of Gaza. Sieges and collective punishment such as this are also unethical and illegal under international humanitarian law.
Since October, the humanitarian situation in Gaza has become catastrophic. United Nations experts urge the international community to act now to prevent genocide and famine.
More than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli military, including over 14,500 children. A child is killed every 10 minutes in Gaza. Over 90% of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million has been displaced.
Israeli border closures and aid restrictions have resulted in extreme hunger in Gaza. Experts warn that famine is imminent. The medical system has entirely collapsed due to bombings of hospitals and clinics, and border closures preventing access to critical medical supplies. Over 77,000 injured Gazans, as well as an estimated 50,000 pregnant women, are without medical care.
We are also deeply concerned about a rise in Israeli settler violence in the West Bank, and the escalation of violence spreading throughout the region.
Based on our faith and our decades of peacebuilding experience, we believe that peace is possible. We encourage the Canadian government to continue to use all its diplomatic capacities to strive for a permanent sustainable ceasefire, support humanitarian assistance and access for humanitarian aid, and work for a lasting and just peace. We encourage Canada to support systems of accountability and to ensure that Canadian actions regarding the region upholds international law, including implementing Canada’s recent commitment to end arms sales to Israel. As a peacebuilding organization, MCC encourages Canada to move federal money spent on weapons globally toward grassroots peacebuilding, not only in the Middle East, but around the world.
Our vision is for a just peace where Palestinians and Israelis have a chance to live in peace and abundance on the land, free from racism and oppression. Only by addressing underlying issues, including the ongoing Israeli military occupation of Palestine, can lasting peace be realized.
We are grateful for Canada’s support for a ceasefire and release of hostages and urge the Canadian government to continue to work for an end to the current violence. We ask the Canadian government to press for increased humanitarian aid and unimpeded access for humanitarian aid, uphold recent Canadian commitments to cancel weapons sales to Israel, and all other items contained in the recent non-binding motion on Gaza.
Additional Resources : FAQ : MCC and Palestine and Israel | A Cry for Home | A prayer for Palestine and Israel
Donate : Give to MCC's response
