GC45 HF01 Calling the Canadian Government to Act for Justice in Palestine/Israel for Summer 2025

Origin: Mervyn Russell 

1. What is the issue? Why is it important?

We believe that the Holy Spirit is calling us to demand the Canadian Government to take more action based on international law as regards the Israeli caused genocide in Gaza.

2. What is happening now?

The Gaza genocide is the most recent and most severe expression of the colonialist oppression of the state of Israel upon the Palestinian people. The Palestinians have, from time to time, resisted their oppression by significant use of deadly force. The largest and most recent expression of this resistance was the October 7th raid into Israeli kibbutzim located along the Gaza border. This raid resulted in the deaths of over 1,000, mainly unarmed, Israelis, and the abduction of over 200 Israeli men, women and children into Gaza. In revenging this crime, Israel has decided to eliminate Hamas and has carried out a military campaign by land, sea and air that has resulted in the killing of over 46,000, Palestinians, of which the majority are women and children, and in destroying most of Gaza’s housing, hospitals, schools, places of worship along with cutting off access to supplies of food, water medicine, and electricity. 

Because Israel’s military campaign has deliberately caused such a huge number of civilian deaths and has obstructed access to the necessities of life, the International Court of Justice has stated in that it can be plausibly considered that Israel is committing genocide. It is in this context that this proposal is being presented. 

3. What is the recommendation?

That the United Church of Canada urge the Government of Canada to: 

Vigorously support, enact and urge other nations to 

1. affirm the pronouncements of the International Court of Justice and the actions of the International Criminal Court
2. support a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and ending armed attacks on Palestinians in the occupied West bank
3. make unhindered humanitarian aid of all kinds accessible to the civilian population in Gaza, either directly by Israel or by the imposition of a United Nations Police force
4. impose a complete ban on mutual trade in arms with Israel, both directly and through third parties until all three parts of the Gaza Ceasefire are completed
5. promote overwhelming international support for a United Nations organized and managed process to bring about a just, mutually respected, lasting peace, ensuring the rights and security of both Israelis and Palestinians. 

4. Background information: 

The Doctrinal statements of The United Church of Canada call us “seek justice and resist evil” and that the church is called to “called to protect the vulnerable, to pray for deliverance from evil, to work with God for the healing of the world that all might have abundant life”

Similarly, in line with the United Church of Canada’s ‘Mending the World’, the support for this proposal can be found in the following documents that provide the thoroughly researched, carefully analyzed and clearly communicated evidence that Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, match the strict criteria for claiming Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. These documents are: 

• www.un.org : Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip. Court Order- ICJ 26th January 2024.
• www.un.org: ICJ’s Advisory Opinion- Legal consequences arising from the policies and practices of Israel in the occupied Palestinian Territories including East Jerusalem.
• www.ICC.CPL.int : Situation of the state of Palestine. ICC Pretrial Chamber 1 rejects the State of Israel’s challenges to jurisdiction and issues warrants of arrest for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant.
• www.amnesty.ca: Amnesty International investigation concludes Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza 

5. How does this proposal help us live into the church's commitments on equity?

This proposal recognizes that the UCC has moved to a Justice Principle Based Approach and, it, therefore, understands that the General Council doesn’t make final decisions about the proposal. This proposal asks, however, that it be considered under the Justice Principle Based Approach, on the basis that this proposal is in harmony with, and builds upon, church policies and statements that have been made by the General Council in the previous two years about the Israel/Palestine situation. In addition, it provides an opportunity for continued awareness, thereby, strengthening and adapting the positions decided upon by General Council 44. 

The documents referred to are: 

• Principles for Justice Work in the United Church of Canada adopted by the 44th meeting of the General Council Oct 2023.
• GCE 10 Authorizing Action for a Principle-based Approach to Justice Work in the United Church of Canada with regard to Palestine-Israel decided by the General Council at the 44th annual meeting of the General Council on October 19th 2024.
• The General Secretary’s letter to the Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, sent on August 13th 2024
• The United Church of Canada Statement about Palestine and Israel Published on October 4th 2024 

For the body transmitting this proposal to the General Council: 
Please select the appropriate option and provide the key discussion points for items being forwarded to the General Council: 
☑ Agree
☐ Disagree without forwarding to the General Council
☐ Disagree and forwarding to the General Council

If you have questions regarding this proposal, please send them to: GCinfo@united-church.ca