Canada's support for ceasefire is better late than never, say Londoners with family in Gaza

Londoners with loved ones in Gaza say Canada's delay in calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war has been frustrating, but they're glad to see Ottawa "take a step in the right direction." 

On Tuesday, Canada voted in favour of a non-binding United Nations resolution that calls for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. It followed a joint statement released by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Australian and New Zealand prime ministers asking for a sustained ceasefire.

It was the first time the government of Canada had officially used the word "ceasefire" in relation to the conflict. The resolution passed the UN General Assembly with 153 votes in favour, 10 against and 23 abstentions.

"This is what we've been calling for since early in October," said Reem Sultan, a London woman who was among a group of Palestinian-Canadians who met with Trudeau in Toronto last month.

"It does feel too little too late after over 18,000 people have been killed," she said. "Nevertheless, it's been taken. So it's a positive step we have to acknowledge."

The Gaza health authority — which is controlled by Hamas, an organization listed as a terrorist entity in Canada — reported on Monday that more than 18,200 Gazans have been killed since Oct. 7.

A statement released by the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) on Tuesday expressed disappointment at Canada's decision, calling its foreign policy "hypocritical."

"We're disgusted and frankly shocked that only hours after issuing a statement that a ceasefire would only be possible under the condition that Hamas release the hostages, stop its use of Palestinians as human shields, lay down its arms, and surrender its control of Gaza, Canada voted in support of a UN General Assembly resolution supporting a ceasefire," CIJA president Shimon Koffler Fogel wrote. 

"Did anything change on the ground in the short hours between Canada's statement and the scheduled UN vote? The answer is no. Hamas still holds more than 100 Israelis hostages. It is still using Palestinians as human shields and it is still indiscriminately firing rockets at Israelis."

Safety concerns for family in Gaza at forefront

Canada's changed stance is one that comes better late than never, said Sarah Abukarsh, a post-graduate journalism student at Fanshawe College, who came to Canada from Gaza in 2019.

"This is a huge step and it means a lot for everyone who stands for human rights to see Canada standing for justice now," she said. "Everyday is a new chance to save lives there for the civilians who are not involved in this war."

Abukarsh is part of a group pushing the Canadian government to expand the definition of family to include the parents and siblings of Canadian citizens that could leave Gaza. Although her husband and daughter are Canadians, his family is unable to leave the besieged strip, she said. 

Both Abukarsh and Sultan worry for the safety of their family members who remain in Gaza. The war has been horrific for many Londoners whose relatives have been killed in the conflict, said Sultan who lost 15 of her extended family members.

Sultan said she believes the Canadian government hasn't done enough in securing the return of its citizens who are still stuck in Gaza.

"We still have Canadian citizens on the ground unable to leave, we have Londoners that are stuck in the north [of Gaza] and the the government knows this," Sultan said. "What is the government doing to secure its own citizens? This should've been the call from the start." 

Abukarsh hopes this can pave the way for a lasting ceasefire and not just a truce, she said.