Mr. Speaker, I am rising today to table a petition from Canadians who are deeply concerned about the urgent need for humanitarian aid in Gaza. The petitioners note that according to common article 1 of the Geneva Conventions, Canada must respect international humanitarian law. They highlight that article 59 of the fourth Geneva Convention requires occupying powers to allow impartial humanitarian relief and that Canada's international assistance accountability act mandates that our aid uphold human rights and international legal standards. They state that Israel's current policies violate these obligations.
The petitioners therefore call on the Government of Canada to reject militarized aid models; to restore access for UN agencies and NGOs, such as UNRWA and the World Food Programme; to permit safe entry for Canadian health care and humanitarian aid workers; and to ensure that all Canadian aid is delivered through internationally recognized, neutral and independent channels.