Tue Sep 24 03:53:02 UTC 2024: ## Canada Condemned for Inaction as Israel’s Air Strikes in Lebanon Reach Deadliest Day Since 2006
**Beirut, Lebanon** – The Canadian organization Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) has strongly condemned Canada’s failure to prevent Israel’s escalation of violence in Lebanon, following the deadliest day of Israeli air strikes since the 2006 war.
On Tuesday, the Lebanese Health Ministry reported at least 365 fatalities, including 21 children, and over 1,246 injured in Israeli attacks. These strikes follow a series of attacks last week, including the controversial use of pagers and walkie-talkies which resulted in numerous casualties and forced thousands to flee their homes.
CJPME President Thomas Woodley denounced Israel’s actions as “shameless brutality” with “colonial overtones” and accused the Israeli government of conducting a “multifront ethnic cleansing campaign” across Gaza, the West Bank, and now Southern Lebanon. He also criticized Canada’s inaction, stating that the country has “failed to deter Israel from escalating its attacks and violations of international law throughout Lebanon.”
Woodley emphasized that Canada had nearly a year to respond to Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank, and yet has not implemented meaningful measures to deter further aggression. The organization also highlighted Canada’s lack of condemnation for the pager attacks, which have been deemed illegal under international law due to their indiscriminate nature.
CJPME further criticized Canada’s ambiguous and ineffective stance on arms control. While Canada claims to have paused the approval of new arms export permits to Israel, hundreds of existing permits remain active, allowing for the transfer of military goods worth almost $95 million. The organization demanded transparency on the specifics of these permits, calling on Canada to utilize the Special Economic Measures Act (SEMA) to impose a full arms embargo on Israel.
The organization also urged Canada to withdraw its military forces from Red Sea operations against Yemen and to push for a comprehensive regional peace plan involving Iran.
CJPME’s condemnation comes amidst growing international concern over the escalating violence in the region. The organization’s call for action underscores the need for a robust and decisive response from the international community to ensure the protection of civilians and prevent further escalation of conflict.
First Piper 