ASIATODAY.ID, OTTAWA – Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly stated that her country has frozen permits for new arms exports to Israel since January 8 2024.
He emphasized that this permit freeze will continue until the Canadian Government can ensure these weapons are used properly.
However, he also said that export permits approved before January 8 remained valid.
Canada’s current liberal government relies heavily on the support of the left-leaning New Democratic Party, which has taken a tougher stance towards Israel over the Gaza conflict.
“Canada has one of the strictest export permit policies in the world. “There is no open permit for the export of deadly goods to Israel,” said Joly, Wednesday, March 20 2024.
“Since January 8, the government has not approved any new arms export permits to Israel and this will continue until we can ensure full compliance with our export regime,” he explained.
Canadian law prohibits the export of weapons if they are used in serious violations of international humanitarian law or serious acts of violence against women and children.
Canada’s parliament passed a non-binding motion on Monday regarding the Gaza conflict calling on the government to halt further authorization and transfer of arms exports to Israel.
Canada said last week it had halted arms exports since January due to the rapidly developing situation on the ground.
Earlier this month pro-Palestinian and human rights activists filed a lawsuit to stop Ottawa from allowing the export of military goods and technology to Israel.
Since the deadly Hamas attack on October 7, Canada has authorized new permits worth $21 million, more than the value of permits in the previous year. (Newswire/AT Network)
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