The Canadian government is facing a lawsuit from human rights groups over continued military exports to Israel amid the reckless war on Gaza.
Israel's war on Gaza has sparked regular pro-Palestinian protests in major Canadian cities [Getty]
Pro-Palestinian and human rights activists in Canada filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the federal government to stop it from allowing companies to export military goods and technology to Israel.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court, argues that Canadian laws prevent military exports to Israel because there is a “significant risk” that they could be used to violate international law and commit serious acts of violence against women and children, it said in a statement of the Federal Court applicants.
Israel launched a ruthless and unprecedented air and ground assault on the Gaza Strip nearly five months ago in response to a Hamas attack on October 7 that killed around 1,200 people. Hamas says the attack was a response to decades of Israeli aggression and occupation.
More than 30,600 people, mostly women and children, have been killed by Israel's bombing of the besieged Gaza Strip, where people are also dying of hunger.
Since then, Ottawa has approved new permits for military exports to Israel worth at least C$28.5 million (US$21.0 million), more than the value of such permits last year, applicants said.
The applicants include the Canadian group Lawyers for International Human Rights, the Palestinian organization Al-Haq and four individuals.
The Canadian Foreign Ministry had no immediate comment.
The NATO allies USA and the Netherlands are also on trial over the Gaza war. Last month, a Dutch court ordered the government to block all exports of F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel, fearing they would violate international law.
The Israeli military offensive has sparked regular pro-Palestinian protests in major Canadian cities. Last week, protesters gathered at gun manufacturer Colt Canada's factory in Kitchener, Ontario.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has repeatedly stressed that Israel has the right to defend itself after the Hamas attack in October. However, senior officials called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in the conflict.