QUESTION PERIOD — Global Affairs
Conflict in Gaza Strip
February 7, 2024
Senator Gold, this week, the United Nations appointed Catherine Colonna, France’s former foreign affairs minister, to lead an independent review of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, or UNRWA, after accusations by Israel that some staff — since fired — were involved in the horrific attack on Israel on October 7. The independent review begins next week, and an interim report to the Secretary-General will be delivered next month. So far, Israel refuses to share either its evidence or intelligence dossier with the UN. Unlike Canada, France — UNRWA’s fourth-biggest donor — has not suspended contributions, and Spain just increased its funding. UNRWA has 13,000 employees providing essential services in Gaza, running schools for 280,000 children and 22 health care centres, as well as food to about 2 million Palestinians. When will Canada follow the compassionate lead of France and Spain?
Thank you for your question and for underlining the important humanitarian issues that plague the people of Gaza. This government is very aware of and sensitive to it.
The government’s decision to suspend aid to UNRWA was based upon information that it received — credible information — about the implication of far too many UNRWA employees in the atrocities that were inflicted upon innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023.
At the same time, it has not diminished its contributions to assist Palestinians in Gaza. On the contrary, it has simply diverted them to other agencies in which it has confidence that those funds will not be used or diverted into the hands of Hamas — a terrorist organization — which any civilized country should and does condemn.
Following the January 26 ruling of the UN International Court of Justice, calling upon preventive measures in Gaza by state parties to the Genocide Convention, will Canada honour its obligations under the Arms Trade Treaty and halt arms exports to Israeli and Palestinian armed groups?
The decision of how to support both Canada’s ally Israel and the Palestinian people is a matter that the government takes very seriously. I am not aware of any decision by the government to change its practices currently with regard to the issues that you raised.
