Update: Over 100 Jewish Canadians from the Jews Say No to Genocide Coalition brought parts of Parliament Hill to a standstill today, occupying the Confederation Building to demand an immediate and full two way arms embargo on Israel. Protestors held signs, sang Jewish songs, prayers and chants, and blocked MPs from reaching their offices, denouncing Canada’s active participation in Israel’s ongoing and brutal genocide of the Palestinian people. Three Members of Parliament attended in support of the protest. After more than an hour blocking the lobby, the peaceful demonstration was disrupted as police arrested 14 individuals, including Rabbi David Mivasair, all of whom have since been released.
Media Round-Up: The demonstration received extensive national and international media coverage, including on Democracy Now, Al Jazeera, CBC, City News, CTV, Le Devoir, Canadian Press, Globe and Mail, and Ottawa Citizen.
“Not In Our Name!”
MPs and Staff Blocked From Business As Usual as Jewish Canadians Demand Canada Stop Arming and Participating in Israel’s Brutal Genocide of the Palestinian People
WHEN: HAPPENING NOW! Tuesday, December 3, 2024. The occupation of the building will continue indefinitely.
WHERE: Parliament Hill: Confederation Building, 229 Wellington, Ottawa, Canada
WHO: Jews Say No to Genocide Coalition
AUDIO/VISUALS: Lobby filled shoulder-to-shoulder with Jewish Canadians wearing same shirts holding sit-in inside the building; large signs and posters; the group is singing and chanting and a Rabbi is leading prayers
B-ROLL: Photos and videos will be uploaded in real time here.
LIVE UPDATES: https://www.instagram.com/jewssaynotogenocide and https://x.com/jewssayno
Ottawa, ON – As catastrophic levels of hunger grip Israeli-occupied Gaza, over a hundred Jewish Canadians and allied supporters of Palestinian liberation have taken over a Parliament Hill building in Ottawa, blocking Members of Parliament from reaching their offices. Their message is clear: Canada cannot continue business as usual with Israel when business as usual means being complicit in a genocide. Canada must end its active participation in Israel’s genocide of the Palestinian people by halting all arms exports to Israel—including components funneled through U.S. loopholes—and stopping all arms imports from Israel.
MPs stopped from going to work were confronted with the undeniable reality that the Canadian government continues to arm Israel’s war machine. “Our politicians cannot be complacent in these marble hallways while Israel continues to burn Palestinians alive in their tents,” said Niall Ricardo from Independent Jewish Voices Canada, one of the organizers of today’s action. “Every bomb Israel drops on Gaza and every missile they fire into Lebanon carries a grim truth: the warplanes and attack helicopters raining destruction on civilians could not fly without hundreds of Canadian-made components. Canada’s ongoing arms exports and diplomatic support make it complicit in these atrocities.”
Canada’s Role in Arming Israel’s War Crimes
- Despite Canadian government claims to have ended the export of military goods to Israel, only approximately 30 permits have been suspended. Over 200 active weapons permits remain in effect, facilitating the ongoing shipment of military technology to Israel.
- A loophole allows Canadian-made components to reach Israel via the United States, circumventing export tracking and the permit process entirely.
- Every F-35 fighter jet and Apache helicopter currently bombing Gaza is equipped with Canadian-made parts worth millions of dollars.
“It is an outrage that Liberal and Conservative politicians have enabled Israel’s genocide for over 13 months,” said Rachel Small of World BEYOND War. “Our own laws and the Arms Trade Treaty demand an immediate end to arms exports, yet this government continues to fuel atrocities. Arming a genocidal regime isn’t just immoral—it’s a criminal act.”
A Jewish Call to Conscience
“Today’s action is grounded in the Torah’s command: ‘Do not stand idly by the blood of your neighbour’ (Leviticus 19:16),” said Rabbi David Mivasair. “A small, well-funded pro-Israel lobby has hijacked Jewish identity to justify unspeakable atrocities. As Jews, we reject genocide in our name. Our liberation is bound with the liberation of all oppressed peoples—because to be truly free, we must act against oppression everywhere.”
Arms Embargo Now: From F-35 Factories to Parliament
Jewish-led organizations and allies recently held demonstrations at F-35 factories across Canada, exposing undeniable proof that these deadly weapons, among many others, are made on Canadian soil. Now, we’re bringing our message to Ottawa.
The goals of our action are:
Demand accountability: We’re calling on the government to admit its role in arming Israel and stop hiding Canada’s complicity in the ongoing genocide of Palestinians.
Enforce a full two-way arms embargo: Canada must stop arming Israel. This means:
- Canada must cancel all active military export permits to Israel.
- Canada must immediately close loopholes allowing weapons to reach Israel via the United States without requiring permits.
- Canada must stop all planned and ongoing purchases of Israeli military goods and technology.
Our commitment: Jewish Canadians and allies are ready to occupy this building indefinitely until Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly provides a concrete response to our call for an arms embargo and an end to Canada’s complicity.
Global Pressure Mounts on Israel
On September 18, 2024, the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly voted to impose sanctions on Israel for the first time in 42 years, following an International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling affirming Israel’s illegal occupation and apartheid regime. And on November 22, 2024, the International Criminal Court also issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence chief, Yoav Gallant, saying there were reasonable grounds to believe they were criminally responsible for acts including murder, persecution and starvation as a weapon of war as part of a “widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population of Gaza”. Canada is legally obligated under this decision to cease all complicity in Israel’s crimes, including the support it lends Israel through the arms trade.
“We are here to hold Canadian politicians accountable for their support of the Israeli genocide of the Palestinian people,” said Gur Tsabar of the Jews Say No to Genocide Coalition. “Netanyahu may be the first to face justice at the International Criminal Court, but he won’t be the last. Every MP who stands by in silence or defends this genocidal regime has blood on their hands. There is still time to choose the right side of history—cut ties with Israel and its atrocities.”
The Time to Act is Now
Activists plan to continue the occupation of the building for as long as possible, demanding Canada stop its complicity in Israel’s genocide of the Palestinian people. “Every moral person is compelled to rise up, sit down, and blockade to halt the horrors of the Israeli occupation and genocide,” said Tsabar. “None of us can rest while Israel’s warplanes turn homes, hospitals, and universities to rubble, its tanks roll over villages, and its soldiers enforce apartheid—all with the complicity and support of our government.”