Canada freezes arms exports to Israel

 

Canada has announced a freeze on arms exports to Israel. The country took such a decision on Tuesday (March 19).  AFP reported this news on Wednesday, citing an official source.

 

Since the start of the war in the besieged Gaza Strip, Canada has been the only export to Israel of 'non-lethal' weapons such as communications equipment. However, the source said that no exports have been made to the country since January.

Israel was Canada's top arms exporter, according to Radio Canada. The country exported $1.5 million of military equipment to Israel in 2022. Earlier, in 2021, the country had exports worth 1.9 million dollars. Israel is one of the top 10 customers for Canadian arms exports.

 

In March, a coalition of lawyers and Canadians of Palestinian descent filed a complaint against the Canadian government to freeze arms exports to Israel. Canada is violating both domestic and international laws, they said.

 

Canada's parliament passed a resolution on Monday calling on the international community to work on a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine. In this regard, Foreign Minister Melanie Joly told The Toronto Star newspaper, "This is a reality

 

On October 7, Hamas fighters attacked southern Israel, triggering a protracted war in Gaza. According to Israeli figures, about 1,200 Israelis were killed in Hamas attacks that day. Meanwhile, armed fighters took 253 hostages to Gaza. In response to that attack, Israel launched a counterattack in Gaza on the same day.

 

According to the Gaza Health Ministry, at least 31,800 people have been killed in the Israeli occupation so far. About 74,000 others were injured.

<<Read More>>: Israel claims to have killed 50 Hamas fighters