"Even though Canada is a member of the Rome Statute, it has consistently opposed investigations into Israeli war crimes. Just last November, Canada opposed a United Nations motion which would require an opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the illegality of Israel’s occupation. Canada’s excuse is that “since it doesn’t recognize a Palestinian state, it wouldn’t recognize Palestine’s accession to international treaties.” However, 138 member states do in fact recognize a Palestinian state and ironically, Canada has voted in favour of Palestinian self-determination."
Re: “Canada’s war crime hypocrisy”
March 27, 2023
Taylor Noakes points out Canada’s hypocrisy regarding its opposition to referring Israeli war crimes to the International Criminal Court (ICC.) Even though Canada is a member of the Rome Statute, it has consistently opposed investigations into Israeli war crimes. Just last November, Canada opposed a United Nations motion which would require an opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the illegality of Israel’s occupation. Canada’s excuse is that “since it doesn’t recognize a Palestinian state, it wouldn’t recognize Palestine’s accession to international treaties.” However, 138 member states do in fact recognize a Palestinian state and ironically, Canada has voted in favour of Palestinian self-determination. As Noakes rightfully argues, Canada’s position goes beyond its hypocrisy, it undermines the value of the “rules-based international order” that it claims to uphold. Canada must rethink its pro-Israel voting record, especially in the midst of Israel’s growing authoritarianism and far-right policies amounting to even greater war crimes against Palestinians.
Reem Majid
Policy Analyst, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East