We, Quebec elected and former elected officials of different political affiliations, of different orders, representing Quebec’s diversity, firmly and with conviction demand an immediate ceasefire between the belligerents.
Right now, thousands of innocent civilians are falling victim to the resurgent conflict between Israel and Hamas. In the coming hours, the names of hundreds more children, women and civilians will be added to the already long list of human losses suffered since the Hamas attack on Israeli territory, which led to the start of hostilities, last October 7.
Since October 7, more than 10,000 victims, most of them civilians, including thousands of children, have died especially in the Gaza Strip, but also in the West Bank and in Israel, according to the results of the Ministry of Defense. Health of Gaza, under Hamas control. Hundreds of Israeli civilians and hostages whose fate still worries the international community are also among the victims of the ongoing conflict, which has left 1,400 dead on the Israeli side, according to Netanyahu’s government.
Today there is a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented severity in Gaza. The civilian population of Gaza does not have access to the most essential elements for respecting human dignity: water, food, medicine and electricity. The International Red Cross and the UN fear that hospitals, schools, places of worship and refugee camps have been bombed, causing thousands of civilian casualties in violation of international law.
In one of the most densely populated places in the world, with no escape route, it seems completely impossible for Gazan civilians to escape this violence.
After the Hamas attack which caused terror and devastation in Israel; despite the catastrophic increase in misery and death in Palestine; Despite the unprecedented escalation of violence in the region and the danger this represents for the entire world, our governments refuse to call for a ceasefire. This position is untenable. Even more, it goes against the will of the majority of the Quebec people and our most fundamental democratic values.
The majority of the Quebec population is staying with us, in the peace camp. The citizens we represent want us to do everything possible to put an end to the abuses to which innocent civilian populations are victims.
We unite our voices with those of Quebec civil society — notably Independent Jewish Voices — and members of the Quebec population who, through their words and their hopeful gestures in recent weeks, have mobilized to build lasting peace both for the Palestinian people and for the Israeli people.
Calling for a ceasefire means resolutely taking the side of peace and acting in accordance with our international commitments. It means promoting our collective humanity instead of making room for decisions that risk exacerbating the violence and hatred of which civilians are often the victims.
Quebecers are asking us to act now to enforce the most rudimentary principles of international law and we are responding to this call.
We are on the side of humans, we are on the side of peace, we call for an immediate ceasefire.
*Also co-signed this letter:
Manon Massé, co-spokesperson for Québec solidaire and MP for Sainte-Marie–Saint-Jacques; Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, co-spokesperson for Québec solidaire and MP for Gouin; Alexander Norris, majority leader on the Montreal city council and municipal councilor for the Jeanne-Mance district; Abdelhaq Sari, municipal councilor for the Marie-Clarac district, Montreal-North, and vice-president of the public security committee; Arij El Korbi, district councilor of Saint-Léonard; Craig Sauvé, municipal councilor for the distinct Saint-Henri-Est–Petite-Bourgogne–Pointe-Saint-Charles–Griffintown; Lysa Bellaïcha, municipal councilor for the Boisé-Du Tremblay district, Longueuil; Alexandre Warnet, municipal councilor of Laval-des-Rapides, Laval; Ryan Young, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue municipal councilor, district 2; Hélène Laverdière, member of the House of Commons (2011-2019) and former NDP spokesperson for foreign affairs; Louise Harel, member of the National Assembly (1989-2008), leader of the official opposition of Quebec (2005-2006), and head of Vision Montréal (2000-2013); Amir Khadir, member of the National Assembly (2008-2018) and co-spokesperson for Québec solidaire (2006-2013); Émilise Lessard-Therrien, member of the National Assembly (2018-2022); Sophie Thiébault, former district councilor, Sud-Ouest borough, Montreal; Marie-Josée Parent, former municipal councilor for the Champlain–L’Île-des-Soeurs district.