SENATORS’ STATEMENTS — Conflicts in Ukraine and Iran

Honourable senators, barely two weeks ago, on the fourth anniversary of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, the Government of Canada put out a powerful statement underscoring the impact of war on children:

For every nation, its children are a sacred and inviolate pledge of continued future existence. The future of a nation’s children should never be held hostage by ideological or partisan political fights, let alone be a deliberate target of a military campaign or a state-administered program with the aim to change their identity.

We were given a stark reminder of this grim reality two days ago when yet another Russian missile struck Kharkiv, killing 10 civilians, including at least 2 children.

The UN has verified that conflict-related violence in Ukraine in 2025 killed more than 2,500 civilians and injured 12,142. The total number of killed and injured civilians in 2025 was 31% higher than in 2024.

It is right, therefore, that our government should condemn illegal wars of aggression and attacks on civilians, especially children. Yet, only a few days after the Canadian government’s robust statement on the need for protection of civilians in Ukraine, a school in Iran was bombed by the U.S.-Israeli military coalition, resulting in the destruction of the Shajareh Tayyebeh primary school in the town of Minab and the death of over 135 schoolgirls.

The pattern of the strike shows that distinct structures at the school were directly struck, indicating that the attack was carried out by highly accurate guided munitions rather than errant weapons whose guidance or propulsion systems failed.

I would have expected a similarly robust condemnation of this war crime from the government, but instead we got a muscular defence of the U.S.-Israeli war of aggression against Iran, a war that violates the UN Charter.

There is no justification for that war. In spite of the horrible regime in Tehran, there was no imminent threat and negotiations were under way. In fact, Iran had agreed to zero stockpiles of uranium. The nuclear program had been destroyed according to President Trump.

The U.S. is fighting a proxy war on behalf of Israel, a country that is still perpetrating the gravest of international humanitarian law violations in Gaza and the West Bank.

As the world turns its gaze towards the carnage in Iran, the atrocities and abuses in Palestine are getting even less attention than before. Is that why Israel has launched its assault on Tehran?

Colleagues, as we speak, there is a debate in the House of Commons on the illegal war in Iran. I hope we can have the same debate in this chamber and show that we are a chamber that stands for the defence of international law.