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.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Europe, Arctic, Middle East and Maghreb, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
I can be brief again—
December 6th, 2023 / 6:30 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Europe, Arctic, Middle East and Maghreb, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
This is a question of a legal technical level that is beyond my capacity to answer, so we will need to come back to you. I do not have that information on the jurisdiction, for example, of the ICC.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ali Ehsassi
Thank you, Mr. Lévêque.
We now go to Mr. Zuberi. You have four minutes.
Liberal
Sameer Zuberi Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you to the witnesses.
As a follow-up question to the one you were just responding to, when you come back, can you also let us know if other parties similar to Hamas, which is a terror group, have been brought to the ICC or the ICJ, and whether or not one of these two tribunals, or both, have adjudicated on disputes with parties that are not signatory to the conventions or do not fall under them?
As an analogous case to Mr. Aboultaif, it's just to complete that answer that you would provide.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Europe, Arctic, Middle East and Maghreb, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
I take good note of this, Mr. Chair.
Liberal
Sameer Zuberi Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC
I'll start by saying that I'm sure we all agree that we want goodness for everybody in the Middle East, regardless of faith, background or ethnicity. I hope and expect that all of us in this House....
“I know”. I shouldn't say “expect”. “I know” we are all seeking that same thing, which is goodness for everyone in the region, regardless of faith, background or ethnicity.
That said, has the current prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, made any statements around the two-state solution as of late? If so, what are they?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Europe, Arctic, Middle East and Maghreb, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
I have not noted recent statements of the Israeli Prime Minister on that topic. I can tell you about our own statements.
Liberal
Assistant Deputy Minister, Europe, Arctic, Middle East and Maghreb, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
The Government of Canada continues to believe that the only way for Israelis and Palestinians to live in dignity, security and side by side is to pursue a path that will lead to a two-state solution.
Liberal
Sameer Zuberi Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC
That is a viable Palestinian state living in peace and security beside the State of Israel, correct?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Europe, Arctic, Middle East and Maghreb, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
Affirmative.
Liberal
Sameer Zuberi Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC
This is in line with our international partners. Secretary Blinken and President Biden have both underscored the same point.
On November 6, Prime Minister Netanyahu said it would be signalled that Israel would want to assume responsibility over Gaza for an indefinite period. Secretary Blinken, in reply, said that this would be a big mistake.
Is Canada's position that Gaza should not be reoccupied, as is the position of America?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Europe, Arctic, Middle East and Maghreb, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
Our position is that there will need to be a transition time between this extreme state of hostilities and a time when we all hope that the two peoples can live in a two-state, side-by-side status. The path between the current state and that end state is one that is very difficult to see through the fog right now. Nobody has a clear answer.
What I can say is there are a large number of thinkers, diplomats, civil servants and people in civil society who are actively thinking these things through and, as I said earlier, seeking the voices that occupy the middle ground rather than the extremes.
Liberal
Sameer Zuberi Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC
Have you taken note that the Secretary-General of the UN, for the first time since 2017, invoked article 99 of the UN charter, calling on the Security Council to act over the Israeli-Palestine crisis and naming it as a threat to international security? Have you taken note that approximately a week into this conflict, the UN called for a humanitarian ceasefire?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Europe, Arctic, Middle East and Maghreb, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
Yes, we are aware of these statements.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ali Ehsassi
Thank you, Mr. Lévêque.
We will now go to Mr. Bergeron.
You have two minutes, sir.
Bloc
Stéphane Bergeron Bloc Montarville, QC
I'm going to ask you two final questions. I hope you'll have enough time to answer. If not, you can send a written response.
More than two-thirds of the people killed in Gaza were women and children. Given the Government of Canada's feminist foreign policy, does this statistic influence how Canada will make decisions going forward?
You both insisted on the pause, which you saw as something extremely beneficial. Nobody would deny that. However, Prime Minister Netanyahu told members of his cabinet that the people in charge of Israeli security agencies fully supported the pause. Those people clearly indicated not only that the pause wouldn't hurt the war effort, but also that it would also enable the Israeli army to prepare for the next phase of combat. As we observed, once fighting resumed, it was even deadlier and more intense than before the pause.
As you see it, is there a genuine desire for a pause that might create space to find a way out of this situation?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Europe, Arctic, Middle East and Maghreb, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
I can certainly tell you what Canada wants. Canada is determined to put an end to the hostilities and ensure maximum protection for civilians.
The statistics you quoted are horrific and very concerning. The most vulnerable—civilians, women, children and other innocent people—are the ones who have suffered the most because of this crisis.
That's why we have repeatedly called for restraint, for the facilitation of humanitarian aid and for protection not only of civilians, but also of civilian infrastructure.
What you're saying about Israel—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ali Ehsassi
We are already 40 seconds over. I think in fairness to the other members, we're now going to have to move on.
Madam McPherson, you have two minutes.
NDP
Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Again, thank you to the witnesses for being here today.
Has Canada made any formal complaint to the Government of Israel over the genocidal rhetoric that we've heard from right-wing ministers, such as the call for “a new Nakba”, the use of the term “human animals” by Israel's defence minister, calls to completely destroy Gaza and the heritage minister saying that Israel should drop an atomic bomb on Gazans?
What is Canada's comment on that language from the Israeli government?