Due to the large number of civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip, Israel is the target of increasingly fierce criticism around the world. Israel's military action against Hamas is considered "inappropriate" and even "criminal" in many countries. Initial support for Israel following Hamas's unprecedented and bloody attack on the Jewish state on October 7 last year has long since faded in the face of images of the desperation of Palestinian civilians hit by a humanitarian disaster.
As a result, Canada has suspended arms exports to Israel and is calling for a "two-state solution" that it sees as the only way to permanently end the armed conflict.
On that occasion, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Melanie Joly, stated that Canada will implement the non-binding resolution adopted by the Canadian legislators, which calls for an end to "further arms exports to Israel", writes "Politika". Israel was among the ten most important markets for the Canadian military industry.
The Canadian Parliament announced that this decision was made as part of official Ottawa's support for the cease-fire in Gaza, the release of prisoners, the two-state solution and support for the decisions of the International Court of Justice in the genocide lawsuit that South Africa filed against Israel, reports Al Jazeera.
Reacting to this decision by Canadian lawmakers, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz announced on his X account that "this move undermines Israel's right to self-defense."
"History will judge this decision of Canada harshly." Israel will continue to fight until Hamas is destroyed and all the hostages are returned home," said the announcement by the head of Israeli diplomacy, quoted by "Politika".
From support to criticism
Since the start of the latest conflict, Canada has only sold "non-lethal" weapons to Israel, which include, for example, communications technology.
Like many other Western politicians, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau first strongly supported Israel's "right to self-defense" before criticizing Israel's military operations in the Gaza Strip.
In Canada, a group of lawyers and citizens of Palestinian descent filed a lawsuit over Canadian arms exports to Israel that "violate international law."
