Montreal, October 9, 2025 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) awaits the implementation of the first stages of a “peace deal” in Gaza, but urges the Canadian government to increase its pressure on Israel to ensure that it does not resume its genocidal assault. CJPME further warns that US President Trump’s “20-point plan” does not offer an acceptable long-term solution for Palestine and argues that Prime Minister Carney must use this moment to push for a swift and permanent end to Israel’s illegal occupation and siege.

“After two years of genocide, this announcement may offer some hope for relief from the incessant horrors that Israel has inflicted on Gaza. However, we continue to hold our breath knowing that Israel simply abandoned the ceasefire deal earlier this year, and may once again resume its assault against the Palestinian people as soon as the hostages are released,” said Michael Bueckert, Acting President of CJPME. “We worry that we have been here before. Prime Minister Carney must do everything possible to ensure that this deal results in an end to the genocide and a full withdrawal of Israel’s unlawful presence in Palestine.”

Despite the prospect of a ceasefire, CJPME warns that serious outstanding issues remain, including:

• Despite promising a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from areas in Gaza, the deal does not guarantee an end to Israel’s illegal occupation and allows it to retain a buffer zone deep within Palestinian territory. Not only does this deal allow Israel to maintain its role as an occupying power indefinitely, but it also risks enabling the further annexation of territory.
• Israel’s deliberate destruction of the conditions of life in Gaza means that many people will continue to die, even in the absence of bombings. The deal proposes an inadequate increase in aid similar to previous ceasefire agreements, which Israel did not even adhere to at the time. Importantly, it does not force Israel to end its siege and restrictions on aid and supplies into Gaza.
• The deal would impose a foreign and technocratic rule over Gaza and only relinquish control to Palestinians once certain conditions have been met, and without any guarantees or timelines. This fundamentally violates the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and is a near guarantee that Israel’s occupation will continue.
• The deal does not promise any mechanisms of accountability for the perpetrators of genocide and war crimes.

CJPME is further concerned that Carney has been in dialogue with Tony Blair and Jared Kushner to coordinate Canada’s support for the plan, given their leadership over proposals that would install a foreign technocratic government over Gaza. Blair is set to become the effective governor of Gaza alongside Trump as leaders of a so-called “Board of Peace.” “By collaborating with Blair and Kushner, Canada risks being complicit in the imposition of a colonial solution on the people of Gaza, fundamentally violating their right to self-determination. Instead of aligning with war criminals who seek to prolong the domination of Palestinians, Canada should be a voice for freeing Palestinians from colonial rule,” added Bueckert.

CJPME argues that Canada should work with partners and the UN General Assembly to coordinate sanctions efforts against Israel, including pushing for additional ‘snapback’-style sanctions that would be automatically triggered if Israel abandons its commitments under the deal.