(Ottawa) Believing that exports of military equipment to Israel violate Canadian and international law, a coalition of Canadian lawyers and citizens of Palestinian origin have filed a lawsuit against the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly.
The lawsuit, filed in Federal Court, alleges that the Canadian government is contravening its domestic and international obligations by continuing to export material to Israel.
The plaintiffs are seeking a court order to direct the Government of Canada to stop issuing export licenses for military goods and technology destined for Israel.
The issuance of these permits should also be declared illegal under Canadian and international law, they argued.
“It is cruel and reprehensible that our government continues to provide material support for atrocities committed by Israel,” one of the plaintiffs, Hammam Farah, said in a statement.
The filing of the lawsuit was announced by the group Canadian Lawyers for International Human Rights (CLAIHR).
Since the start of Israel’s offensive in the Gaza Strip last October, the Canadian government has authorized the export of at least 28.5 million in military equipment to the Jewish state.
According to Global Affairs Canada, the licenses issued since October 7 concern “non-lethal equipment.”
We are talking, for example, “night vision glasses, protective equipment”, illustrated Monday the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly.
The minister’s office had not yet reacted to the filing of this lawsuit on Tuesday afternoon.