Statement
July 25, 2025 – Guelph, ON
As you may know, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and 29 of our international partners recently signed a joint statement demanding an immediate end to the war in Gaza. Like you, I see the horrifying reports on the news every day, read the findings of UN agencies and of NGOs like Médecins Sans Frontières, and speak with community members who are worried about their families in Gaza.
I fully support this joint statement. I am glad to see a shift in tone and the promise of more action. For months now I have been speaking with groups locally and have raised their concerns in Ottawa. I will continue to do so. I have raised it in caucus. I have spoken with the Parliamentary Secretary to Minister Anand and was on a call with the Minister before she attended the UN High-Level International conference on 2-state solution to Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.
I agree with the first sentence in the joint statement: The war in Gaza must end now.”
The language in the statement is clear:
“The suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths. The Israeli government’s aid delivery model is dangerous, fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity. We condemn the drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children, seeking to meet their most basic needs of water and food. It is horrifying that over 800 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid. The Israeli Government’s denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable. Israel must comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law…
We call on the Israeli government to immediately lift restrictions on the flow of aid and to urgently enable the UN and humanitarian NGOs to do their life saving work safely and effectively."
The statement repeatedly reinforces that Israel must comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law and clearly states “permanent forced displacement is a violation of international humanitarian law” as are proposed changes to the Occupied Territories. The statement also condemns expansion of settlements in the West Bank and settler violence against Palestinians which is in line with Canada’s support for a UN motion last November.
Canada will also continue to provide humanitarian aid in Gaza and the West Bank. To date Canada has allocated more than $300 million in funding for international assistance to address the urgent humanitarian and resilience needs of vulnerable civilians – the third largest contribution in the world. We are also part of the coalitions urging opening and protection of humanitarian aid corridors. Of course, rather than humanitarian aid, we all want to see this war end and for Palestinians and Israelis to live in peace and dignity.
Until that day comes, as your Member of Parliament, I continue to advocate for the end of military operations in Gaza, for humanitarian aid, the release of hostages, for upholding human rights and international law and a path towards a two-state solution. I also continue to ask our government what additional steps can be taken to support the efforts of the US, Qatar and Egypt who are leading these negotiations and what further actions Canada can take.
At home, I will continue to listen and learn from our community, strive for constructive dialogue, and combat Islamophobia and antisemitism.
Dominique O’Rourke
Member of Parliament for Guelph