Evidence of meeting #88 for Foreign Affairs and International Development in the 44th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was gaza.
A video is available from Parliament.
NDP
Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Perhaps you could provide some of the more detailed information to the committee after you look at those technicalities.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Europe, Arctic, Middle East and Maghreb, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
Yes. For technicalities related to international law, I think that would be a wise idea.
NDP
Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Can you please explain why Canada opposes the International Court of Justice advisory proceedings on the legal consequences arising from the policies and practices of Israel in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Europe, Arctic, Middle East and Maghreb, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
I feel like I need to bring some of our legal experts here in the future. I am not one of those legal experts. We'll have to come back to you in writing.
NDP
Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Thank you.
As a final question for this area, prior to submitting its opposition to the ICJ's advisory opinion this summer, did government officials hold meetings with other states to coordinate efforts to oppose the case at the ICJ?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Europe, Arctic, Middle East and Maghreb, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
I do not know. I'll have to come back to you.
NDP
Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Would you be willing to provide that information to the committee in writing?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Europe, Arctic, Middle East and Maghreb, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
I will, with pleasure.
NDP
Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Thank you.
I would also like to ask a question about what's happening in the West Bank.
We are seeing an increase in violence. Yesterday the United States announced that it will be imposing travel bans on extremist Jewish settlers implicated in recent attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank. Will Canada be undertaking the same?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Europe, Arctic, Middle East and Maghreb, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
We're aware of these measures that were just announced yesterday by the United States. Of course, anything pertaining to travel documents does not fall under Global Affairs Canada. That is something that falls under IRCC.
NDP
Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
I would assume that you would be asked for your opinion on that, though.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Europe, Arctic, Middle East and Maghreb, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
I tend to keep in my swim lane and not speak on behalf of another department when my competencies are of a different nature. We would have to direct that question to IRCC.
Generally speaking, yes, we are looking at the tools that are at our disposal. Our system is different from the system in the United States. For example, they call it a visa ban, but Israelis do not need a visa to come to Canada. They have the electronic travel authorization.
NDP
Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
I will try to get one more question in, if I can.
I'm done...?
Okay. Thank you.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ali Ehsassi
We now go to the second round, starting off with Mr. Aboultaif. You have four minutes, sir.
Conservative
Ziad Aboultaif Conservative Edmonton Manning, AB
Thanks, Chair.
Thanks to the witnesses.
First, reports are suggesting that the support provided on the Gaza side by the department is not efficient. It almost doesn't exist. Can you explain that, and can you confirm that?
Sébastien Beaulieu
I would be happy to speak to Canada's efforts to bring out Canadians, permanent residents and their immediate family.
We have, as I mentioned, one of the largest contingents of foreign nationals who came out. We were able to assist them in crossing the Rafah border.
Obviously, it's a very difficult environment. It's difficult for Canadians to get to Rafah and the communications are sometimes very difficult, but we are getting Canadians out. We're very happy with everyone who crosses that border.
Conservative
Ziad Aboultaif Conservative Edmonton Manning, AB
Thank you. You evacuated 600 people from Gaza, 80 from the West Bank and 1,661 from Israel.
As far as Gaza is concerned, do you have any idea of the number of people related to Canadians or Canadian PRs who are still inside Gaza? Do we have any idea about the number?
Sébastien Beaulieu
We estimate that to be about 200 currently, but that number keeps fluctuating—
Conservative
Ziad Aboultaif Conservative Edmonton Manning, AB
On the SOS international website where people go and register, which is the very minimum effort by the department to be able to allow people to report on their families inside, do you have an idea of what the number of people registered is so far?
Sébastien Beaulieu
The number of registered Canadians remaining in the Gaza region is approximately 200.
Conservative
Ziad Aboultaif Conservative Edmonton Manning, AB
On the website, do we know how many people have entered...? What's the number of people or names being entered?
Conservative
Ziad Aboultaif Conservative Edmonton Manning, AB
If human rights violations have been.... It's a war, at the end of the day, and they can happen on both sides. You said you don't have any evidence on that at this point in time. It's not an easy decision to make. However, you said earlier that you have a process going to be able to determine that so that you can go down the road to the ICC or take both sides to the ICC.
If you have no evidence now and then you have a process on the other side, how can you add this up together to make a logical case?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Europe, Arctic, Middle East and Maghreb, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
I'll just reiterate that no such process, given the gravity of the allegations, should be short-circuited or expedited. What I am saying is that we have experts in law enforcement and in the legal profession who are looking at this and who are comparing notes with international colleagues to collect evidence, but I think every lawyer would understand and appreciate that to be able to build a case and document it in such a way that it can be defended in a court of law, media reports are not sufficient. It is a matter of legal standards and not a matter of disregard for the gravity of the actions.
Conservative
Ziad Aboultaif Conservative Edmonton Manning, AB
If both parties commit human rights violations as a result of this war—one, Israel, is a country and the other is Hamas, a terrorist organization—is it true that you cannot take them both to court at the ICC because one of them is not a state?