Montreal, March 24, 2026 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is urging the Canadian government to forcefully oppose Israel’s escalating acts of aggression against the Lebanese people, and is particularly alarmed about the rise of genocidal rhetoric from Israeli officials. CJPME urges Canada to impose a full two-way arms embargo on Israel and ensure that no Canadian technology is implicated in Israeli crimes.
“Israel is pursuing ethnic cleansing and annexation in Lebanon, while threatening to turn its cities into Gaza, a clear indication of its genocidal intent,” said Yara Shoufani, President of CJPME. “Canada has done nothing to discourage Israel’s actions, but has only proven itself to be a booster for illegal US-Israeli aggression in the region. Instead of empty talk about de-escalation, Canada must impose sanctions and a full arms embargo on Israel.”
Israel has killed over 1,000 people in Lebanon and forcibly displaced over 1 million in its latest assault, and is currently planning a land invasion and occupation of Southern Lebanon. Israeli military officials have described their strategy as “the Gaza model, but in Lebanon,” indicating plans to replicate criminal acts that amount to genocide. Israel’s Defence Minister confirmed today that Israel is seeking to occupy territory up to the Litani river and indefinitely prevent residents from returning to their homes, explicitly based on Israel’s approach to the annihilated Gazan cities of Rafah and Beit Hanoun. Israel’s finance minister said yesterday that Israel should annex the territory and result in a permanent “change of Israel’s borders.”
“The world already failed to respond to genocidal rhetoric from Israeli leadership about Gaza, which was later put into practice. Our leaders are standing by as the same threats are made about Lebanon. It appears that Canada is content to be a bystander, or worse, an accomplice to genocide given our ongoing arms transfers to Israel," added Yara.
CJPME urges Canada to move beyond empty statements and finally back up its words with action. Although Canada signed a joint statement last week warning against a possible Israeli ground invasion, it has failed to play a meaningful de-escalatory role in the region, and instead has given political cover to US-Israel aggression. Canada immediately endorsed the blatantly illegal US-Israel attacks on Iran, has refused to rule out the possibility of Canadian military involvement in the conflict, and is allowing US military aircraft to refuel in Canadian airspace thereby facilitating their illegal bombing campaigns.