Canada bypassing of UN to deliver aid to Gaza "cautiously" praised
Abraham Global Peace Initiative founder Avi Benlolo says Canada needs to stop relying on organizations like UNRWA to feed hungry Gazans
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OTTAWA — While praising Canada for bypassing the United Nations to make Monday’s airdrop of humanitarian supplies in Gaza, a leading Canadian Jewish organization took note of the government’s lack of mention for a contentious UN organization with ties to Palestinian terror.
Avi Benlolo, founder of the Abraham Global Peace Initiative (AGPI,) told TheToronto Sun he found it odd that Canada offered no word of thanks for Israel’s role in facilitating Monday’s relief mission — only thanking neighbouring Jordan.
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“I was surprised that Israel wasn’t mentioned in the Canadian press release, stating that Israel helped and assisted in this effort,” Benlolo said, noting the RCAF airdrop couldn’t have happened without Israeli permission to enter their airspace.
“It’s really too bad, because it shows that they don’t want to give any kind of recognition to Israel in a positive way.”
Indeed, Tuesday’s press release from Global Affairs Canada accused Israel of being complicit in food shortages in Gaza, saying Israel’s supposed “obstruction of aid” violates international humanitarian law.
Many news organizations were hoodwinked by photos of a Gazan child with serious genetic conditions, erroneously citing the photo as proof of an Israeli-mandated famine in Gaza.
Last week, the New York Timespublished a retraction after featuring the photo on its front page.
Outrage over the photo prompted numerous nations, including Canada, to vow to formally recognize Palestinian statehood at the UN next month.
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The Toronto Sun reached out to Global Affairs Canada for comment, which said it wasn’t possible to respond by press time.
Canada’s airdrop, coordinated with other nations, saw 21,600 pounds of aid delivered directly to Gazans, bypassing on-the-ground agencies like the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) — whose close and demonstrated ties to Hamas have raised numerous questions.
Video and photos released on Monday by Israel’s Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) painted a much different picture of life in Gaza, showing bustling markets stocked with fresh produce and busy bakeries making bread.
The organization said over 300 truckloads of aid entered Gaza earlier this week.
Facilitated by UNRWA, Hamas regularly diverts Israeli aid shipments coming into Gaza, opting to sell the supplies to fund their war on Israel while everyday Gazans starve.
While Benlolo and AGPI say they’re “encouraged” by Canada’s move to bypass UNRWA and Hamas, he noted the government’s press release also made no mention of UNRWA.
“UNRWA hasn’t been good to the Palestinian people at all,” Benlolo said.
“Rather than helping them support themselves and build up their own state and economy, it’s been putting them on perpetual welfare — and we all know that that’s not a good way to get people off the ground.”
He also noted UNRWA’s complicity in Hamas terrorism, including facilitating the radicalization of Palestinian children in UN schools, using UN facilities to store weapons, and Hamas accessing UNRWA networking and power infrastructure in their underground bunkers.
Attempts to circumvent the UN to deliver aid, namely the U.S.-led Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF,) have been met with derision — including Hamas issuing warnings to Gazans not to accept GHF aid under threat of punishment or death.
Last April, the National Postgained exclusive access to Israeli intelligence — the same intelligence shared with the PMO — showing UNRWA employees and teachers moonlighting as senior members of Palestinian terror groups, and even taking an active role in the Oct. 7 terror attacks.
Benlolo’s message to the Canadian government was simple.
“Stop enabling that organization and start helping build a better system that will lift the Palestinians, but not fund them in perpetuity,” he said.
“Many Palestinian people have said quite candidly that UNRWA is a detriment, so it’s time for the world to recognize this.”
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