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| Canada faces lawsuit over military exports to Israel | Canada faces lawsuit over military exports to Israel |
| (10 days later) | |
| Canada's foreign minister Mélanie Joly has denied sending any weapons to Israel since 7 October | Canada's foreign minister Mélanie Joly has denied sending any weapons to Israel since 7 October |
| A group of Canadian lawyers is suing Canada's global affairs ministry for exporting military goods and technology to Israel during the Gaza conflict. | A group of Canadian lawyers is suing Canada's global affairs ministry for exporting military goods and technology to Israel during the Gaza conflict. |
| The attorneys argue the exports could be used in alleged human rights violations against Palestinians. | The attorneys argue the exports could be used in alleged human rights violations against Palestinians. |
| Canada has authorised at least C$28.5m ($21m) of export permits to Israel since the war erupted on 7 October. | Canada has authorised at least C$28.5m ($21m) of export permits to Israel since the war erupted on 7 October. |
| But Ottawa denies accusations that these exports are illegal, saying the goods were "non-lethal" in nature. | But Ottawa denies accusations that these exports are illegal, saying the goods were "non-lethal" in nature. |
| Israel has said it respects international law and that it has a right to defend itself after it was attacked by Hamas. | Israel has said it respects international law and that it has a right to defend itself after it was attacked by Hamas. |
| The lawsuit was filed on Tuesday in the Federal Court of Canada by non-profit group Canadian Lawyers for International Human Rights (CLAIHR), along with Ramallah-based non-profit Al-Haq Law and a group of Canadian and Palestinian applicants, most of whom lost family and friends in Gaza. | |
| The legal action accuses Canada's Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly of authorising the export of military goods and technology to Israel that could be used to commit violations of international law. | The legal action accuses Canada's Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly of authorising the export of military goods and technology to Israel that could be used to commit violations of international law. |
| Such exports, they argued, are unlawful and in breach Canada's domestic laws and its international legal obligations. | Such exports, they argued, are unlawful and in breach Canada's domestic laws and its international legal obligations. |
| CLAIHR said it was asking the courts to block further such exports from Canada to Israel. | |
| Children starving to death in northern Gaza - WHO | Children starving to death in northern Gaza - WHO |
| UN finds 'convincing information' of sexual violence against hostages | UN finds 'convincing information' of sexual violence against hostages |
| "We just want Canada to abide by its own laws and no longer contribute to these violations of international humanitarian law," said Henry Off, a Toronto-based lawyer with CLAIHR. | |
| The BBC has contacted Global Affairs Canada for comment. | The BBC has contacted Global Affairs Canada for comment. |
| Speaking to reporters two weeks ago, Ms Joly said "there have been no weapons sent under my watch", and that Canada has only exported "non-lethal equipment" since 7 October. | Speaking to reporters two weeks ago, Ms Joly said "there have been no weapons sent under my watch", and that Canada has only exported "non-lethal equipment" since 7 October. |
| Official government records reported on by Canadian media show that over C$28m in exports to Israel were authorised in the first two months of the war. | Official government records reported on by Canadian media show that over C$28m in exports to Israel were authorised in the first two months of the war. |
| Of that, C$1.7m of authorised permits were reportedly labelled under a category that includes "bombs, torpedoes, rockets, missiles and other explosive devices", as well as related equipment and accessories. | Of that, C$1.7m of authorised permits were reportedly labelled under a category that includes "bombs, torpedoes, rockets, missiles and other explosive devices", as well as related equipment and accessories. |
| Another C$18.4m covered items categorised as "electronic equipment", according to Canadian media. | Another C$18.4m covered items categorised as "electronic equipment", according to Canadian media. |
| Following these reports, Canada's centre-left New Democratic Party called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Liberal government to release documents on Canadian military and technology exports to Israel since the war broke out. | Following these reports, Canada's centre-left New Democratic Party called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Liberal government to release documents on Canadian military and technology exports to Israel since the war broke out. |
| Israel began its offensive in Gaza after Hamas gunmen attacked nearby Israeli towns, killing around 1,200 people and taking 253 hostage, according to Israeli officials. | Israel began its offensive in Gaza after Hamas gunmen attacked nearby Israeli towns, killing around 1,200 people and taking 253 hostage, according to Israeli officials. |
| More than 30,500 Palestinians - mostly women and children - have been killed during Israel's retaliatory offensive, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza. | More than 30,500 Palestinians - mostly women and children - have been killed during Israel's retaliatory offensive, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza. |
| Nearly two million others are displaced and the UN has warned of a looming famine in Gaza. | Nearly two million others are displaced and the UN has warned of a looming famine in Gaza. |
| In January, the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to take all measures to prevent genocidal acts in Gaza. | In January, the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to take all measures to prevent genocidal acts in Gaza. |
| Israel has vehemently rejected the allegation of genocide as "wholly unfounded". | Israel has vehemently rejected the allegation of genocide as "wholly unfounded". |
| Similar lawsuits have also been filed in the US, the UK and the Netherlands to block the export of military goods to Israel. | Similar lawsuits have also been filed in the US, the UK and the Netherlands to block the export of military goods to Israel. |
| The UK challenge, also launched by Al-Haq, was dismissed, though the group has vowed to appeal. | The UK challenge, also launched by Al-Haq, was dismissed, though the group has vowed to appeal. |
| In February, a Dutch court ordered a halt to the export of F-35 jet parts to Israel over concerns they were being used to violate international law - a decision the Dutch government said it would appeal to the country's Supreme Court. | In February, a Dutch court ordered a halt to the export of F-35 jet parts to Israel over concerns they were being used to violate international law - a decision the Dutch government said it would appeal to the country's Supreme Court. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Middle East | Middle East |
| Israel-Gaza war | Israel-Gaza war |
| Israel | Israel |
| Canada | Canada |