Canada has announced that it will maintain an arms embargo on Israel to prevent the use of weapons in Gaza. The country said that no export licenses have been approved for military goods that could be used in Gaza since January 2024. Although some NGO reports have recently accused Canada of supplying weapons to Israel, Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand dismissed these claims as misleading. She said that any export of military goods without a valid license will be subject to strict legal action.
Canada has announced that it will maintain an arms embargo on Israel to prevent the use of military equipment in the besieged Palestinian territory of Gaza. The country reiterated its strict stance on the export of any military equipment suitable for use in Gaza. Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand said in a statement on Saturday,
‘গাজায় ব্যবহৃত হতে পারে— এমন সামরিক পণ্যের লাইসেন্স আমরা ২০২৪ সালের শুরুতেই স্থগিত করেছি এবং এখনও তা স্থগিতই রয়েছে। কোনো অনুমোদন দেওয়া হয়নি।’
Translation: “We suspended the licensing of military products that could be used in Gaza at the beginning of 2024 and it remains suspended. No authorization has been granted.”
The announcement follows a report published on July 29 that claimed that arms are still being sent from Canada to Israel. The report was produced by four human rights organizations—
- World Beyond War,
- Palestinian Youth Movement,
- Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East,
- Independent Jewish Voices.
They claim, citing information from Israeli tax authorities, that products labeled “military weapon parts and ammunition” are still being shipped from Canada to Israel.
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However, Anand categorically denied these claims, saying,
‘প্রতিবেদনের বেশ কিছু দাবি বিভ্রান্তিকর এবং বাস্তবতা বিকৃতভাবে উপস্থাপন করা হয়েছে।’
Translation: “Several of the report’s claims are misleading and distort reality.”
She explained,
‘প্রতিবেদনে যেগুলোকে গুলি বলা হয়েছে, সেগুলো আসলে পেইন্টবল ধাঁচের। এগুলোর সঙ্গে এমন যন্ত্রও ছিল, যা আগ্নেয়াস্ত্রকে সাধারণ গোলাবারুদ ব্যবহারে অকার্যকর করে তোলে। এগুলো যুদ্ধক্ষেত্রে ব্যবহারের উপযোগী নয়। যদি কেউ এমন কিছু ব্যবহারের চেষ্টা করে, তা হলেও সেটির জন্য লাইসেন্স লাগবে— আর সেই লাইসেন্স কখনোই দেওয়া হতো না।’
Translation: “What the report calls bullets are actually paintball-style. They were accompanied by devices that render firearms ineffective when used with regular ammunition. They are not suitable for use in a battlefield. If someone tried to use something like that, they would have needed a license — and that license would never have been granted.”
She also confirmed,
‘লাইসেন্স স্থগিত হওয়ার আগ থেকেই কোনো কানাডীয় প্রতিষ্ঠান ইসরায়েলে মর্টার সরবরাহ করেনি— সরাসরি বা পরোক্ষভাবে কোনও ভাবেই নয়।’
Translation: “No Canadian company has supplied mortars to Israel since the license was suspended — either directly or indirectly.”
Anand said that if any company exports military equipment without a valid license, legal action will be taken against them. This includes fines, confiscation and criminal charges.
She confidentially said ,
‘আমরা কখনোই কানাডায় তৈরি অস্ত্রকে এই সংঘাতে ব্যবহৃত হতে দেব না।’
Translation: “We will never allow Canadian-made weapons to be used in this conflict.”
However, the organizations involved in the report presented commercial shipment documents as evidence. Speaking at a press conference in Ottawa, Yara Shufani of the Palestinian Youth Movement said,
‘এই তথ্য থেকে স্পষ্ট, কানাডা সরকারের অস্বীকার সত্ত্বেও দেশটি ইসরায়েলকে এখনো বাস্তবিক সহায়তা দিচ্ছে।’
Translation: “It is clear from this information that despite the Canadian government’s denials, the country is still providing practical assistance to Israel.”
Source: The Daily Ittefaq
