CUPE Ontario’s Climate Justice and International Solidarity committees extend their gratitude to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and its work to bring humanitarian aid, including food and medical supplies, to the Gaza Strip.
After almost 20 months of near-continuous assault, the state of Israel’s genocidal war has killed 55,000 people and destroyed almost every institution capable of providing life sustaining services in the Gaza Strip.
On March 2, 2025, Israel instituted a total blockade on Gaza. Not a morsel of food, a drop of fuel, or tablet of medicine was allowed to enter Gaza. The images of starving, malnourished, wounded and dying children, women and men will forever be a stain on human civilization.
After international outcry and near daily warnings of imminent famine, Israel and the United States have implemented limited food distribution centres in the southern part of Gaza. This plan has been criticized by the United Nations, World Health Organization, International Committee of the Red Cross and others as a thinly veiled attempt to move civilians out of northern Gaza and concentrate Gaza’s population of 2.1 million people into zones located in southern Gaza.
Amidst such carnage and despair, world leaders continue only to express consternation and threaten the potential of future actions. Contrast that inaction with the actions of leaders like climate campaigner Greta Thunberg and others, who have embarked from southern Italy to draw attention to the unyielding catastrophe in Gaza.
As CUPE National has stated, Canada has obligations under international laws, including the UN Convention for the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Further, the Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act of Canada oblige the Canadian state to pursue perpetrators of war crimes and related offenses regardless of the jurisdiction in which such crimes have taken place. To this end, we call on the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada to join South Africa’s application instituting proceedings against Israel concerning alleged violations by Israel of its obligations under the Genocide Convention in relation to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
We stand in admiration of the important symbolism and example provided by Ms. Thunberg, 11 other activists and the crew of the Madleen and we wish them a safe passage to Gaza.
In solidarity,
CUPE Ontario Climate Justice Committee
CUPE Ontario International Solidarity Committee
