More than 30 MPs — including 23 Liberals — call for ceasefire in Israel-Hamas war
CBC
More than 30 MPs — 23 of them Liberals — have written a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau calling on him to advocate for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
"Canada has long been a voice for peace. The longer this conflict goes on, the more innocent civilians will pay with their lives. We demand that Canada join the growing international call for an immediate ceasefire. Canada must act before more innocent children are killed," says the letter, signed by 33 MPs.
The signatories include former cabinet minister Omar Alghabra and six current parliamentary secretaries. Eight NDP MPs, including House Leader Peter Julian, and both Green Party MPs also added their names to the list.
The MPs condemn the Hamas attacks that killed more than a thousand Israeli civilians on October 7 and called for the release of all hostages. They also called on the government to push for humanitarian corridors into Gaza so aid can be provided to Palestinians.
One signatory, Liberal MP Sameer Zuberi, said he and his colleagues signed the letter to advocate for peace.
"The reason why we signed this letter is to call for a ceasefire and to make a call for peace, a concrete call for peace," he said.
"The circumstances right now are are leading to a lot of civilian casualties and that's why we ... must stop what is happening."
Zuberi — who spoke tearfully before cameras on Wednesday about the recent explosion near a hospital in Gaza — said the call for a ceasefire doesn't mean he believes Israel doesn't have a right to defend itself.
"Every country has the full obligation to defend its its citizens, to ensure that they live in safety and security," he said. "At the same time, there is a very well established legal doctrine and military doctrine that relates to civilians and that civilian casualties must be avoided to a very high degree of caution."
During a press conference on Friday, Trudeau was asked if the conflict was creating a division in his caucus.
"There are lots of different perspectives. But there are shared fears and concerns amongst all parliamentarians and a commitment every single day to keep everyone safe here in Canada and everywhere around the world," he said.
The MPs' letter comes after nearly two weeks of Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. It is expected that Israeli forces will soon launch a ground incursion into the territory as well.
On Thursday, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant told infantry troops massing along Israel's border with Gaza that they would soon see it "from the inside," a clear reference to an anticipated ground invasion.
Julie Sunday, an assistant deputy minister with Global Affairs Canada, told reporters that the government is aware of roughly 430 Canadian citizens and permanent residents in Gaza.
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