My letter to Minister Anand re: Israel's genocide in Gaza

While the ICJ will make the final determination, it is now apparent that we have watched a genocide unfold, an "unequivocal conclusion" according to B’Tselem, an Israeli human rights organization.

Aug 16, 2025

*In January 2024, I wrote here that I was tired of signing letters to call for a ceasefire and that we needed an end to the violence and killing, though I doubted whether there was sufficient evidence of genocidal intent at that time.

In February 2024, I called for Canada to do more, and in March 2024 I voted for more action.

In October 2024, I published this reflection, pointing to the complete destruction of Gaza and the need for greater international leadership.

Today, I wrote to Minister Anand to again emphasize the need for action. Unlike in January 2024, I believe we’ve watched a genocide unfold. And while I appreciate the government’s symbolic commitment to recognize the State of Palestine, I believe we need to act forcefully to ensure a clear two-way arms embargo, expand targeted sanctions, and help establish a multilateral peacekeeping presence to facilitate the distribution of aid, secure a ceasefire and the release of hostages, and ensure peace and security for any future free and fair election.

You can read my full letter to the Minister below.

Minister Anand,

You have rightly said that a famine is unfolding in Gaza, that humanitarian suffering has reached unimaginable levels, and that urgent action is needed to halt and reverse starvation.

What is left unsaid is that the humanitarian horror has been caused by Israel’s collective punishment and wanton destruction of the Palestinian people. There is no world in which the Hamas terrorist attack of October 7 justifies emaciated Palestinian kids.

The world watched that heinous attack on innocent Israeli civilians in horror. And ever since, we’ve watched Israel’s mass and indiscriminate killing of innocent Palestinian civilians, forced displacement, intentional starvation, and wholesale destruction of health, educational, religious, and cultural facilities. All while Israeli leaders dehumanize the Palestinian people.

To salvage his far right government, Netanyahu abandoned a ceasefire that would have brought the hostages home. And he has abandoned any pretense of proportionality or lawfulness, acting with impunity in the face of international outcry.

The Netanyahu government starves Palestinians by blocking essential humanitarian aid, in direct contravention of the International Court of Justice. It razes entire communities and responds with the absurd lie that Hamas booby traps every building. It widely expands illegal settlements in the West Bank. It targets journalists and bars others from entry, unheard of in modern times. It kills and injures desperate civilians waiting in line for aid. It suggests Palestinians should be further displaced to Sudan. And the list goes on.

In a recent interview, Netanyahu told us that Israel would take over Gaza, and the Knesset recently voted in support of further annexation and occupation of Palestinian territory.

It is past time for the world to act.

While the International Court of Justice will make the final determination, it is now apparent that we have watched a genocide unfold. In its recent “Our Genocide” report, the Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem has come to the same “unequivocal conclusion that Israel is taking coordinated action to intentionally destroy Palestinian society in the Gaza Strip.”

At a minimum, Israel’s actions amount to ethnic cleansing and gross violations of international humanitarian law. And we have an obligation to act forcefully.

In May, our Prime Minister wrote that “we will not stand by” and committed to “further concrete actions” should Israel not cease its military offensive or enable the flow of aid. Well, it is now August and Netanyahu’s radical government has not changed course in any way.

My community overwhelmingly expects us to follow through with concrete actions.

To start, we cannot be complicit in Israel’s crimes.

There has been confusion in my community about the nature and effectiveness of the existing arms embargo. We must be completely transparent with Canadians about what has shipped since January 2024, just as we must be clear that the arms embargo applies to the indirect shipment of parts and components as well as any procurement from Israeli suppliers.

Until such time as the Israeli administration changes, we should exhibit the same leadership that former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney showed in addressing the human rights catastrophe in South Africa. Further sanctions against Netanyahu and his cabinet are warranted, for example.

Second, we must proactively advance peace in every way.

I commend you and the Prime Minister for opting to recognize the State of Palestine at the United Nations in September. It is important, but also only symbolic at this time.

To address the immediate crisis in front of us, I am now convinced that a multilateral peacekeeping force is necessary, established either via UN Resolution 377A or outside UN processes. Canada should engage other countries to help establish a peacekeeping presence that would facilitate the distribution of critical humanitarian aid, secure an overdue ceasefire and release of hostages, and ensure peace and security for any future free and fair elections.

I understand that this is a difficult feat to accomplish and that Canada will need to collaborate as much as lead. But absent American action to pressure Israel to end the war, I don’t see any other path to peace.

Lastly, there is no easy solution to the divisions here at home unless peace is secured overseas. It’s difficult when anger and grief motivate our thinking, whether it is with respect to the remaining hostages or the complete destruction of Gaza. Still, we must remind Canadians that it is wrong to hold Jewish neighbours responsible for the actions of Israel just as it is wrong to equate criticism of the Israeli government with antisemitism. We must guard both security and the right to protest in our free and democratic society.