By Jai Birdi – Chetna Association of Canada

I write this on behalf of the Chetna Association of Canada regarding the Israeli bombardment in Gaza targeting homes, hospitals, markets, and education facilities has left 10000 Palestinians killed, half of whom are children, more than 25000 injured, 37 journalists killed, all the while leaving the survivors—more than two million unable to move or seek shelter from the bombardment—subject to a near total blockage of food, water, fuel, electricity, internet, medication, and sanitary facilities in hospitals. 

Despite these unending lists of on-going atrocities on record, which clearly expedites alarming humanitarian crises for Palestinians in Gaza and elsewhere, Canada silently stands by as a steadfast ally to Israel and supporter of its actions. 

Through devastating “evacuation” orders by Israel, the occupying force has displaced more than 1.1 million Palestinians in the besieged Gaza strip. This has largely impacted civilian lives and civilian infrastructure. Despite the rising death toll, nearly 45% housing units have been destroyed and ruined by Israeli bombardment. It is obvious that the tragic attacks on October 7 have cost 1400 Israeli lives and wounded 250 more. Yet, it is also now clear that Israel is acting as if this tragedy justifies the total elimination of the Palestinian people living in Gaza, who are often equated as “Hamas,” and more recently in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. Palestinians have long been subjected to genocidal violence. Now more than ever, there is an absolute need for Israeli forces and all the resistance groups to respect international humanitarian law. Peace and justice must prevail.  

Canada has long been known for its peacekeeping efforts. Whether it is the achievements of John Peters Humphrey’s in drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Noble Peace Prize-winning role that Lester B. Pearson played in providing a possible solution to the Suez Canal issue, or the longstanding service in the UN Security Council, Canada’s position on the international stage is widely recognized and distinguished. Moreover, the Instrumental approach of Canada in the creation of the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) has been hailed as a taking principled leadership role in the international community. All of this is indicative of a long tradition of peacekeeping and moral commitment to human rights that has been deeply constitutive of the Canadian psyche since then—a tradition and commitment that now appear, if rarely, in words but no longer in action. 

On behalf of the Chetna Association of Canada, I urge and call upon Canadian political leaders and officials to call for an immediate ceasefire and for urgent humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza compel Israel, the occupying force with asymmetrical military capability, to recognize and condemn its own current acts of ethnic cleansing, collective punishment, genocide, and war crime acts . 

Nothing about either of these two acts conflict with the official positions of the United Nations or the UN General Assembly, not to mention growing moral consensus across Canadians. The prompt response is direly needed as we are aware of the fact that “Justice delayed is justice denied.” 

Jai Birdi is the Executive Director Chetna Association of Canada. www.chetna.ca