Foreign Affairs Committee on Oct. 24th, 2024

[Alexandre Lévêque]

To my knowledge, that question has not been put to those governments, but it would typically be done through the UN directly, given that they report to UN command.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Does Canada consider the use of white phosphorus on UN peacekeepers to contravene the chemical weapons convention?

[Alexandre Lévêque]

That is a very complicated question. I'm afraid I cannot answer in full detail. White phosphorus is a weapon that can be legitimate in some circumstances.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

I have so many questions, so I'll ask you, if you wouldn't mind, to provide a written response if it is too complicated to provide a short response.

[Alexandre Lévêque]

It's complicated, and preliminary, given that the attack happened very recently. Obviously, facts need to be gathered before we can pronounce ourselves on this.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Thank you.

Breaching and entering a UN position is a further flagrant violation of international law and Security Council resolution 1701. Any deliberate attack on peacekeepers is a grave violation of international humanitarian law and resolution 1701.

Has Canada formally notified Israel that it objects to these violations of international law?

[Alexandre Lévêque]

We frequently have discussions with Israel about expressing and demonstrating restraint.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

In this particular example, have you provided any formal notification to Israel?

[Alexandre Lévêque]

No, not the way you described it.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

As you know, forced displacement is illegal under international humanitarian law. We've seen, repeatedly, how Israel warns civilians in Lebanon to leave their homes and then bombs their communities indiscriminately. These are people who have no affiliation to Hezbollah and whose homes are completely destroyed.

Does the Government of Canada consider this to be forced displacement or another violation of international law?

[Alexandre Lévêque]

Again, there's a legal threshold that has to be met for the government to be able to pronounce itself on such a question. I cannot give that legal assessment right now, but at a high level, yes, the government has been critical of the excess of force that has been used in a number of occurrences.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

The committee would very interested in hearing from you when you do have the ability to provide a more fulsome response to that.

[Alexandre Lévêque]

Of course.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Has Canada assessed Israel's attacks in Lebanon to be potential violations of Lebanese sovereignty?

[Alexandre Lévêque]

I would provide the same answer. No, that assessment has not been done to date.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

When that assessment is done, again, we would welcome that at this committee.

[Alexandre Lévêque]

Naturally.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Has Canada assessed any of these attacks to be indiscriminate?

[Alexandre Lévêque]

No, it has not to date.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

International law, including the 1954 Hague convention and the 1972 world heritage convention, clearly outlines the protection of cultural heritage during armed conflict.

This week, we saw Israel bomb the ancient city of Tyre, a UNESCO world heritage site. We also saw this in Gaza, where 60% of the heritage sites assessed by UNESCO have been damaged in the past year. Lebanese people are saying this is not just a war on civilians but also on their history, cultural heritage and very existence.

Why hasn't Canada commented on the destruction of cultural property in Lebanon to date?

[Alexandre Lévêque]

I would give the same answer as I did the previous question on this line of questioning.

You're quoting international law texts that require deeper analysis. Anticipating your next question, yes, we will be happy to provide this to the committee once the assessment is complete.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Thank you.

A report from the United Nations has said that Gaza's economy would take 350 years to return to its preconflict levels. With the escalation of destruction in Lebanon and considering the UNDP has warned of catastrophic socio-economic collapse due to this war, what would you estimate the cost of rebuilding Lebanon to be? How long would you estimate this would take?

How much should donor countries like Canada be expected to contribute to the rebuilding of Gaza, particularly as we have noted that France has recently allocated $108 million to Lebanon?

[Alexandre Lévêque]

No such monetary assessment has been completed to date for Lebanon. Of course, everything else is just an estimate.

These are astronomical sums, which is why the best thing the international community can do right now is to do everything in its power to put an end to the fighting, so that reconstruction can begin.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

We have been very clear as a country—and I'm very proud of it—that we are here to help Ukraine rebuild after the conflict in Ukraine.

Why are we not as vocal in helping Gaza and Lebanon rebuild in that circumstance?

[Alexandre Lévêque]

I think pronouncements along those lines have been made as well.

The situation is not as clear-cut. It will require a regional bargain, if you will. I think that a number of countries, particularly in the Middle East and in the gulf, will be prepared to come and weigh in and lean in, but only when there is a reasonable guarantee that hostilities can cease and will not start up again. That requires a political and diplomatic solution.