Dear Minister Joly,

We, the undersigned civil society organizations, share your dismay at the continuing devastation in Gaza. Canada risks becoming complicit in this humanitarian catastrophe by continuing to transfer military goods to Israel, exports that are incompatible with its obligations under the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). As organizations committed to the defense of human rights, the protection of civilians, peace and justice - many of whom are present in Gaza and witness daily the grave consequences of arms transfers to parties to the conflict - we urge the Canadian government to take immediate action to halt all exports of arms and arms components to Israel, as well as all transfers for which Israel will be the end-user.

Over the past ten months, more than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's military campaign in the Gaza Strip, the majority of them women and children. More than 92,000 have been injured and vital civilian infrastructure destroyed. In the last few weeks alone, Israel has attacked at least seven schools. These attacks add to the long list of schools, hospitals, refugee camps and places of worship hit since October, many of them crowded with displaced civilians fleeing the violence.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the ATT, which Canada joined five years ago. Under this treaty, Canada is prohibited from exporting arms if these transfers are used to commit serious crimes under international law, including disproportionate and indiscriminate attacks. Furthermore, States Parties to the Treaty may not authorize arms transfers if there is an overriding risk that they will be misused, in particular to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian law (IHL) - violations which have become routine for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). These obligations are also reflected in domestic law in the Export and Import Permits Act (EIPA).

Furthermore, the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) order to halt Israel's military offensive at Rafah because of the plausible risk of genocide, as well as its July 19 advisory opinion that Israel's prolonged occupation of the Occupied Palestinian Territory is illegal, are important international legal conclusions that call for concrete policy changes, and not just on Israel's part. Canada must urgently review its own cooperation practices to ensure that they prevent international crimes and do not contribute to further violations of international law.

Indeed, at the beginning of the year, it was reported that your government had suspended the authorization of further arms transfers to Israel, which was a decisive step in the right direction. However, since then, the extent of this policy has not been officially defined, permits for arms transfers to Israel have not been refused but rather left in abeyance for future authorization, and, most worryingly, previously approved arms transfers have continued unabated.

We are alarmed that these already authorized transfers include at least $95 million worth of Canadian military equipment that could be exported to Israel by the end of 2025, despite Israel's consistent and well-documented violations of IHL and human rights in Gaza and the West Bank. Canada's continued arming of Israel contradicts our country's commitment to upholding IHL and human rights. It also undermines efforts to end hostilities in Gaza through the implementation of a ceasefire, which Canada has pledged to support.

On August 14, the U.S. government announced that a Quebec company, General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems Inc., would be the main contractor in the likely sale of US$61 million worth of high-explosive mortar rounds and related equipment to Israel. This announcement directly contradicts the Canadian government's assertion that the only military exports to Israel currently underway are “non-lethal” military equipment. Furthermore, all Canadian arms exports are subject to ATT obligations, even those transferred to the U.S. under a General Export Permit.

Canada cannot credibly prioritize diplomatic solutions and peace support while contributing to the arming of a conflict in which IHL violations are persistent and well-documented. By halting all military exports likely to be used in current hostilities, including those transiting through the United States, Canada will not only be complying with its international and domestic legal obligations, but will also be taking a principled stand in favour of the rule of law, human rights and IHL, thereby strengthening its international reputation as a defender of these values.

We urge your office to refuse the transfer of the recently announced mortar cartridge sale with the U.S., and to cease all military exports to Israel - both direct and transferred through the U.S. - including revoking all existing permits. We remain committed to working with the Government of Canada to meet its legal obligations, defend our shared values and promote peace and justice both at home and abroad. We hope you will give this matter the urgent attention it requires, and look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely,

1. Amnistie internationale Canada francophone
2. Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME)
3. CARE Canada
4. Coopération Canada
5. Développement et Paix – Caritas Canada
6. Human Concern International 
7. Humanité & Inclusion Canada
8. L'Institut Rideau
9. International Development and Relief Foundation (IDRF)
10. Islamic Relief Canada
11. Labour Against the Arms Trade 
12. Médecins du Monde Canada
13. Mennonite Central Committee Canada
14. Oxfam Canada
15. Oxfam-Québec
16. Project Ploughshares
17. Save the Children Canada
18. Voix juives indépendantes Canada
19. World BEYOND War