From Amnesty International – read full statement online… this is simply excerpts from the statement:
October 14, 2023
The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, P.C., M.P.
Prime Minister of Canada
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa ON K1A 0A2
Re: Conflict in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories: Canada must urge the immediate lifting of Israel’s illegal and inhumane blockade of the Gaza Strip, the respect of international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians by all parties
Prime Minister,
Amnesty International has closely monitored events in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories since October 7, 2023. We write with the utmost concern about the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in the Gaza Strip. We are alarmed by the unprecedented scale of violations of essential principles of international humanitarian and human rights law and the grave risks facing civilians.[…]
Israel’s shutdown of Gaza’s only power plant has exacerbated the already desperate humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. Water, food, and access to essential services are running out in Gaza’s hospitals, already struggling to cope with the influx of wounded patients. This puts the lives of hospital patients, including people in intensive care, those with chronic medical conditions, and newborns relying on life support, in grave danger and amounts to collective punishment.
Amnesty International Canada has condemned the October 7, 2023 horrific attacks by Hamas and other Gaza-based Palestinian armed groups in the strongest terms. Rightly condemned by your government, the mass summary killings, hostage-takings, and launching of indiscriminate rocket attacks into Israel are egregious violations of international law and amount to war crimes. These war crimes, however, do not, and must not be used to, justify collective punishment.[…]
Inexplicably, Canada has yet to denounce Israel’s indiscriminate air strikes on and full blockade of the Gaza Strip and the forced displacement of more than one million civilians.
Amnesty International urgently calls upon your government to:
– Unequivocally and publicly urge Israeli authorities to immediately rescind the “evacuation” order.
– Call on all parties to prioritize the protection of civilian lives as mandated by international humanitarian law and end indiscriminate attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure.
– Negotiate for and guarantee humanitarian assistance access – medical supplies, food, clean water, and other lifesaving and gender-responsive essentials – throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territories without obstruction.
– Use all diplomatic efforts at your disposal to address the root causes of the repeated cycles of violence and help end Israel’s 16-year-long illegal blockade of Gaza and Israel’s system of apartheid imposed on all Palestinians.
Prime Minister, you have the obligation, on behalf of all Canadians, to uphold Canada’s international commitments to human rights and hold Israel to its obligations. At this critical hour, we urge you to stand on the right side of history and unequivocally use Canada’s voice and influence to protect the most vulnerable.
Sincerely,
Ketty Nivyabandi, Secretary General, Amnesty International Canadian Section (English-Speaking)
France-Isabelle Langlois, Directrice Générale, Amnistie internationale Canada Francophone