Canada's support for Gaza UN Vote undermines peace: Jewish groups

Canada abstained voting on a similar resolution in September, denying support for a motion that holds Israel solely responsible for the conflict

Bryan Passifiume

Published Jun 13, 2025 • Last updated Jun 13, 2025 • 2 minute read

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This picture taken during a media tour organized by the Israeli army on Feb. 8, 2024, shows Israeli soldiers inside an evacuated compound of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in Gaza City, amid ongoing fighting between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Photo by JACK GUEZ /AFP via Getty Images

OTTAWA — Canada’s support for a UN resolution demanding an immediate Gaza ceasefire — without also demanding the disarmament of terrorists — does little to further peace in the Middle East, says a Canadian Jewish group.

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In a statement issued Thursday evening, Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) said Canada’s support of the non-binding United Nations General Assembly motion is definitely a win to terror groups like Hamas, and undermines the peace process.

“Hamas began this painful conflict and continues it, every day, by failing to release hostages and lay down its arms,” said CIJA interim President Noah Shack. “Resolutions like this one embolden Hamas and give it hope that it can remain in power.”

Out of the 193 member states of the UN’s General Assembly, 149 voted in favour of the resolution, demanding an immediate and permanent ceasefire in the ongoing conflict sparked by the Oct. 7 2023 attacks that saw scores of Palestinian terrorists conduct a campaign of murder, kidnapping and sexual assault against Israeli civilians.

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Flags and posters of killed and kidnapped Israelis at the site of the Supernova Music Festival near Re'im, Israel on May 5, 2024. Bryan Passifume/Toronto Sun — Flags and posters of killed and kidnapped Israelis at the site of the Supernova Music Festival near Re’im, Israel on May 5, 2024. Bryan Passifume/Toronto Sun Photo by Bryan Passifiume /Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Twelve nations voted against the non-binding resolution — including Israel and the United States — while 19 abstained.

Lacking in the resolution is any language demanding Hamas and other Palestinian terror groups — whose brutal rule over Gaza is fostering growing opposition among everyday Palestinians — disarm and establishing terrorists should have no role in Gaza’s future.

This represents a stark change in Canada’s position on the Israel-Hamas conflict, which abstained from a similar vote last September.

“Canada cannot support a resolution where one party, the state of Israel, is held solely responsible for the conflict,” read a statement from Global Affairs Canada.

“Canada supports Israel’s right to live in peace with its neighbours within secure boundaries and recognizes Israel’s right to assure its own security. There is no mention in the resolution of the need to end terrorism, for which Israel has serious and legitimate security concerns.”

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The vote comes days after Canada signed onto a five-nation effort to sanction two Israeli politicians accused of inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.

bpassifiume@postmedia.com
X: @bryanpassifiume

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