A petition has been launched in Canada, urging Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to call for an end to the bombing in the Israel-Hamas conflict. The petition, started by Maëva Gaudrault Valente of Montreal, has garnered over 123,000 signatures and includes the demand for a humanitarian corridor. The appeal emphasizes the importance of the Canadian government fulfilling its commitments under international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions, while also working towards lasting peace and protecting both Israeli and Palestinian civilians. Despite attempts to reach Valente for comment, there has been no response as of yet.
The petition gained significant traction on social media, with Canadians expressing their support for a ceasefire and the need to address the humanitarian crisis. One Facebook user urged others to sign the petition, stating their refusal to believe that only 0.3% of Canadian adults support it. Another user expressed their feelings of helplessness and emphasized the importance of using their voice to demand government action and a ceasefire.
On Reddit, various communities shared the petition and expressed disappointment in the Canadian government’s lack of initiative. Users highlighted the need for faster action and criticized the nation for its justifications, ideologies, and ignorance of its genocidal and settler colonial past and present.
The petition has received the most signatures from Ontario, followed by British Columbia and Quebec. The fewest number of signatures come from Nunavut. Additionally, Oxfam Canada and Amnesty International Canada have launched their own petitions, demanding the same actions from the Canadian government. Oxfam Canada’s petition has garnered over 40,000 signatures.
Diana Sarosi, Oxfam Canada’s Director of Policy and Campaigns, highlighted the significance of the parliamentary petition but stressed the importance of continued pressure on the government. She called on more Canadians to sign the petitions to make their desires known. Trudeau has recently acknowledged the need for humanitarian pauses in Gaza to facilitate aid delivery.
However, Sarosi expressed skepticism towards these pauses, stating that they are insufficient. She questioned the meaning and duration of these pauses and emphasized the urgency of a ceasefire. Sarosi stressed the dire situation faced by civilians, with many already dead, injured, or on the brink of starvation. She emphasized the need for relief organizations to be granted access and for significant aid to be provided, as the current circumstances make it challenging to deliver basic necessities.
In summary, the petition in Canada demanding Prime Minister Trudeau’s intervention to halt the bombing in the Israel-Hamas conflict has gained significant support. Canadians are using their voices and social media platforms to call for a ceasefire and demand government action. Relief organizations like Oxfam Canada have also joined the cause, highlighting the urgency of the situation and the need for access to provide aid to civilians.
