Canada halts 30 arms export permits to Israel, including US-linked deal

Canada has halted around 30 arms export permits to Israel, including a deal between a US company’s Canadian subsidiary and the US government, Foreign Minister, Melanie Joly, announced yesterday.

These permits had been approved before a January ban on new weapons’ sales that could potentially be used in Gaza, which is grappling with an escalating humanitarian crisis due to Israel’s ongoing attacks against the enclave.

Foreign Minister Joly also revealed that she had initiated a review of contracts between Canadian weapons suppliers and Israel, along with other countries. She said, “Following that, I suspended around 30 existing permits of Canadian companies.”

She further emphasised that the government will not permit Canadian-made ammunition, produced by the Canadian division of the US-based General Dynamics, to be sold or transferred through third-party countries for resale to Israel.

“As for the question regarding General Dynamics, our policy is clear,” Joly added. “We will not have any form of arms, or parts of arms, be sent to Gaza. Period. How they’re being sent and where they’re being sent is irrelevant. And so, therefore, my position is clear, the position of the government is clear, and we’re in contact with General Dynamics.”

The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), the country’s largest Muslim advocacy group, welcomed the decision, highlighting Joly’s clear stance that Canada’s weapons ban to Israel remains firmly in place. In a post on X, NCCM praised Joly for rejecting any loopholes that might allow the sale of explosives by General Dynamics to proceed.

“Minister Joly put out a clear message stating that Canada’s policy on a weapons ban to Israel remains in place,” NCCM posted on X. “She suggested point blank that the government of Canada was not in favour of any loopholes being used in relation to the recent proposed sale of explosives by General Dynamics.”

In response, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs expressed concern, calling Joly’s remarks a “disturbing shift” in Canada’s policy, reported the Globe and Mail.

Several countries have moved to reassess and suspend arms sales to Israel since the onset of the Gaza conflict, with the UK being the most recent to take such action.

The new Labour government in the UK halted 30 arms export licences to Israel after a review revealed that British-made weapons may have been used in Gaza in ways that violate international humanitarian law. The suspension took immediate effect.

Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, condemned the decision, calling it “shameful” and claiming it would embolden Hamas.

Israel has killed more than 41,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, in the Gaza Strip since the Hamas incursion last year.

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