Category: ICJ

Petition to the House of Commons in Parliament assembled

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Whereas:

•  In 1949 the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) was established to carry out direct relief and works programs for Palestinian refugees.

•  UNRWA is the primary provider of humanitarian aid: food, social services, healthcare, schools, refugee camps, and microfinance, sustaining the lives of millions of civilians, more than half of them children, in the Palestinian territory of Gaza, blockaded by Israel since 2007.

•  South Africa submitted an Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel) to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

•  After considering both Application and oral arguments, the Court concluded genocide was “plausible.”

•  In its January 26^th Order, the ICJ cited UNRWA statements documenting dire conditions in the Gaza Strip, before introducing its fourth Provisional Measure:

•  “The State of Israel shall take immediate and effective measures to enable the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance to address the adverse conditions of life faced by Palestinians in the Gaza Strip;”

•  Hours later, Israel leveled allegations against a dozen UNRWA employees, and Canada “paused” Humanitarian funding committed to UNRWA without waiting for an Investigation.

  We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to:

live up to our obligations under the Genocide Convention, to prevent the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip from “deteriorating further before the Court renders its final judgment,” by

1. reinstating Canada’s UNRWA funding, and
2. advocating other countries do the same to prevent the collapse of UNRWA when Gaza’s lifeline is needed most.

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I’ve asked many people to sign petitions, but never started my own til now. 

This is one of many bad things going on in the world today that could easily be stopped with political will. Unfortunately too many politicians in winner-take-all political systems like ours don’t actually represent us. Which is why we have to work so hard trying to get them to listen. And why so many people across Canada feel compelled to protest in the streets.

Genocide is the worst thing people can do to one another. 

Israel has issued many orders to the people of Gaza since October 7, 2023. As a result, its attacks have laid most of Gaza to waste. The vast majority of the surviving population has been herded into Rafah, the last remains of a city in the Gaza strip. Today, more than a million people huddle in refugee tents that have no doubt been provided by UNRWA. 

The genocide in Gaza is not just plausible, it is ongoing. And because it could be completed at any time, nothing is more important today. 

That’s why it is so important to get 500 signatures as quickly as possible. 

I am terrified that the end is imminent. 

Which is why I am asking you to please sign this petition, and share it with everyone you know.

Thank you.