This week marks one year since Israel launched its assault on Gaza in response to the October 7th attacks on Israeli civilians. We unequivocally condemn all acts of violence against civilians, including the attacks by Hamas and Hezbollah’s shelling of Israel.
However, one year into this conflict, it is clear that the violence has gone beyond self-defence and escalated into an illegal assault on innocent Palestinians and a humanitarian catastrophe. More than one hundred Israeli hostages and nearly 10,000 Palestinian detainees remain in captivity. The violence has now spread outside Gaza, with retaliatory strikes affecting civilians in Lebanon.
As we reflect on this sombre anniversary, the Green Party of Canada mourns all innocent lives lost in the conflict.
We have consistently called for an immediate ceasefire and de-escalation of violence. Canada must join allies in recognizing Palestine as a state and support efforts to hold all parties accountable for violations of international law. At the same time, humanitarian access to Gaza must be ensured to deliver aid to those in need. Upholding international law and delivering aid are critical to ending this crisis.
Recently, when Israel began bombing Lebanon, our leader Elizabeth May made a powerful statement in the House of Commons (watch here): “We know who the enemy of peace is. Unfortunately, he has a name. He is Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He has put his personal ego and political career ahead of rescuing Israeli hostages, and he seems to care nothing about innocent civilians.”
Extremists on both sides of this conflict are striving for the same thing—endless war. We condemn all those who promote hate and violence, including extremists in Netanyahu’s cabinet, Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran. We believe that lasting peace can only be achieved through the recognition of human rights and a commitment to non-violent conflict resolution. Without this, the destruction will continue, and violence will only lead to more violence.
All Palestinians and Israelis, and particularly the children of both nations, are entitled to safety and security. The prolonged Israeli occupation of Palestine—the longest in the modern world—must end completely and immediately, and Palestinian self-determination must be realized. This is why Green MPs Elizabeth May and Mike Morrice continue to advocate in Parliament, pushing for a ceasefire, the return of all hostages, and the respect of international law and UN resolutions. We are relentlessly pressing for Canada to take a stand so Israelis and Palestinians can both exist in peace.