OTTAWA – Canada voted in favor of a non-binding resolution at the United Nations on Tuesday that calls for “an immediate humanitarian ceasefire” between Israel and Hamas, in a move that broke with years of Canadian policy and shocked Jewish groups.
Canada’s vote Tuesday at the UN General Assembly represents a shift in its long-standing position of voting with Israel on major resolutions at the international body arguing the Jewish state is unfairly called out in global forums. We must recognize that what is unfolding before our eyes will only enhance the cycle of violence,” Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said Tuesday on Parliament Hill.
“This will not lead to the durable defeat of Hamas, which is necessary, and the threat that it poses to Israel. With the future of Israelis and Palestinians in mind, Canada is joining the international call for a humanitarian ceasefire.” Canada has stated from the beginning that Israel has the right to defend itself, Joly said. “And how Israel defends itself matters. It matters for the future of both Israelis and Palestinians, and it matters for the future of the region,” she added.
The latest war between Israel and Hamas began after the armed group’s militants launched a surprise attack in Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people, including hundreds of civilians, and taking about 240 people hostage.
Israel retaliated with airstrikes on the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip and cutting off its access to many essential supplies. Local authorities say more than 18,000 Palestinians have been killed.“Thousands of children are now orphans,” Joly said Tuesday.
“Countless Palestinian civilians in Gaza are suffering without water, food, fuel or medicine and their homes have been reduced to rubble.”
The National Council of Canadian Muslims called the UN vote a “milestone” that needs to translate into “the reality of action and deeds.”
Yet the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs said it was “disgusted and frankly shocked” by Canada’s stance, given that the motion does not explicitly call out Hamas for its crimes or urge the group to surrender. ”Canada’s decision to support the resolution will undoubtedly lead to further hate being directed towards Jews here in Canada,” it said in a written statement.
Hamas “cannot be rewarded and left unaccountable,” said the group, which represents Jewish federations across Canada. Canada lent its support to a U.S. amendment to the resolution that would have explicitly condemned Hamas, but the amendment did not reach the support of two-thirds of the assembly that would have been required to adopt it… Source:ctvnews.ca/
Saturday, April 18, 2026
