As the devastation caused by Israel’s ongoing attack on Gaza grows, civil society organizations from various sectors are urging the Canadian government to immediately suspend all arms and military technology trade with Israel.
Actions on Thursday, June 13, took place at 45 locations across Canada under the banner of Arms Embargo Now, a cross-sectoral campaign launched on May 7 demanding a two-way arms embargo with Israel.
While in most locations, people demonstrated with banners and brochures outside of MP offices, a group of 100 people in Vancouver blocked the Port of Vancouver for over three hours.
Dozens of residents of the riding of Toronto—Danforth gathered outside of MP Julie Dabrusin’s office on Queen St. East. Spokespersons talked about the importance of the arms embargo and the group chanted for a free Palestine while some participants handed out brochures.
A dozen police officers showed up. A small number of pro-Israel individuals came and focused on the Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
Zaid Zawaideh lives in the Toronto—Danforth riding and is a member of Toronto Palestinian Families, a group fighting anti-Palestinian racism in the TDSB. “Our MP [Julie Dabrusin, Toronto—Danforth] has been silent against Israeli crimes against Palestinians while providing political cover for the continuous aggression against the people in Palestine,” Zawaideh told The Grind.
Despite multiple attempts by her constituents to build an open dialogue, Zawaideh says Dabrusin has refused to engage with the community.
Instead, he said, “she has tried to vilify us.”
“What we are doing today is making sure that Israel cannot continue this, by limiting the supply of weapons, exerting as much possible pressure as to ensure that this … genocide stops.”
Dabrusin has not supported an arms embargo on Israel. In a January statement, she noted that Israel is not in the top 10 buyers of military goods and technology made in Canada.
MPs put “on notice”
Since the official campaign’s launch on May 7, over 400 Palestinian associations, labour unions, religious institutions, human rights and environmental groups, as well as community organizations and civic groups throughout Canada have joined the call for a two-way arms embargo.
In March, The Maple reported that Parliament had passed a non-binding NDP motion to “cease the further authorization and transfer of arms exports to Israel.” However, the office of Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly confirmed that that only applied to future applications of permits and that they would not be revoking exports that were authorized before Jan. 8.
“Jewish people of conscience throughout the GTA have come together after Oct. 7 because we feel very strongly: not in our name,” Joey Ramana, a member of Jews Say No To Genocide, told The Grind outside Dabrusin’s office. “It is not never again for anybody, and we do not want this happening in the name of Judaism, because we know that is not what this [assault on Gaza] is about.”
Tahsin Hussain, an organizer with Toronto 4 Palestine, said outside Toronto Centre MP Marci Ien’s office that as the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, Ien has a general moral obligation towards all women and children, including those in Gaza.
“The only way you can say that you are doing anything for women and children at this time is by supporting a two-way arms embargo,” Hussain told The Grind, adding that their demands also include cancelling the “export permits to Israel that have already been approved.”
As of June 14, 20 of 155 Liberal MPs, 22 of 24 NDP MPs and both Green MPs had signed onto the call for a two-way arms embargo, according to World Beyond War.
Five of the 20 Liberal MPs had signed on in the days leading up to the June 13 action: asir Naqvi (Ottawa Centre), Sean Casey (Charlottetown), Chad Collins (Hamilton East—Stoney Creek), Julie Dzerowicz (Davenport), and Helena Jaczek (Markham). Signed on the day of, hours before the action was planned at her office.
“Today’s actions put MPs who still have not signed on to the demand for a two-way arms embargo with Israel on notice: When Parliament rises later this month, you can expect your constituents to continue raising the demand at barbecues, picnics, and other public events throughout the summer,” an Arms Embargo Now press release states.
Canada’s military exports
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Canada ranks as the 17th largest exporter of military goods globally and is the second biggest weapon supplier to the Middle East region.
In 2022, Canada exported over $21 million worth of military products to Israel. This comprised at least $3 million in bombs, torpedoes, missiles and other explosive materials, according to World Beyond War.
The Canadian government approved new military export permits worth at least $28.5 million to Israel in the first two months of Israel’s war on Gaza, The Maple reported.
While Global Affairs Canada did not disclose the specific nature of the exported items, the ministry has consistently stated that all newly issued military export permits to Israel were for items deemed “non-lethal.”
Since Oct. 7, and as of time of writing, Israel has killed 37,347 Palestinians in Gaza and wounded about 85,037, as Gaza’s health ministry announced.
“It is blocking aid, manufacturing a humanitarian disaster, and causing children to starve. The Canadian government must take meaningful action to stop this now,” Arms Embargo Now’s press release states.
The demonstrators said that unlike many of their MPs, they will not be going on holidays, vowing instead to continue demanding that Canada impose a full and immediate arms embargo against Israel.
JUNE 19, 10:50 A.M.: An earlier version of this article published on June 17 indicated a lower number of Liberal MPs had signed onto the arms embargo call. This was corrected and several stylistic edits were made for clarity.