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Don't let up

Re: Joint statement on Gaza

Joint statement from the leaders of Canada....

Dear Mr Carney and Ms Anand

First of all, congratulations to you both on your election to Parliament.

Mr Carney, thank you for the beautiful words of your acceptance speech, touting humility above all else and your desire to “fight for” all Canadians (although I might suggest “govern for” is both more accurate and less adversarial in framing).

Thank you for your joint statement with the leaders of the UK and France.

Thank you for “strongly oppos[ing] Israel's military operations in Gaza.”

Thank you for denouncing the “wholly inadequate” trickle of food aid.

Thank you for “denouc[ing] the denial of essential humanitarian assistance as “unacceptable.” Please note that it does not merely “risk breaching international humanitarian law” but has clearly already done so.

Thank you for the call to release the Israeli hostages in Hamas captivity. Please note that should have been accompanied by a demand to release the Palestinian hostages in Israeli “administrative detention.” They are just as illegally and unjustly imprisoned.

Thank you for promising “not [to] stand by while the Netanyahu Government pursues these egregious actions.”

However, Israel has already received warnings like this and done nothing. In addition to their repeated and escalating actions demonstration what can only by seen as genocidal intent, Israeli government ministers have boldly stated clear genocidal intent. The time for ultimatums is long past. This is not an “if” situation. It is already happening. Whatever concrete action you have planned, you must begin to take it now. Do not wait for the inevitable “crossing of the red line." So many red lines have already been crossed that Gaza is a field of blood.
You can immediately enforce the promised arms embargo with Israel: not only enforce it immediately and completely (closing every loophole), but enforce it as a two-way embargo: absolutely no military materials destined for either country, no matter which intermediaries are involved and no matter what sort of purpose they serve. No water containers or anything. 

You can immediately crack down on Israeli military recruitment in Canada. 

You can launch CRA investigations into all organizations credibly accused of funding settler colonialism or militariasm in Israel and if they are found to be noncompliant, remove their charity designation.

You can immediately recognize the Palestinian state. You have said you support a two-state solution, so why would you hesitate to recognize one of said two states?

This egregious humanitarian crisis has been going on for far too long. The credibility of Western nations is at stake and has already been made precarious in the world due to their silence in the face of clearly illegal and utterly immoral behaviour from the Israeli government. 

You must act now. 

We are all suffering moral injury due to our complicity with this genocide unfolding before our eyes.

Mr Carney and Ms Anand, you have the power to take the wishes of Canadians and act on our behalf. Please do not delay.

Sincerely

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