United Church of Canada

Letter from General Secretary Rev. Dr. Michael Blair urging action and the recall of the Israeli Ambassador until Israel complies with rulings of the International Court of Justice. Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. “In sharp contrast to the advisory opinion’s calls for Israel to end its occupation, the military incursions and massacres have, instead, intensified..."

The International Court of Justice voted in favour of the opinion, stating inter alia that: 1. the State of Israel's presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) is unlawful; 2. the State of Israel is under obligation to end its unlawful presence in the OPT as rapidly as possible; 3. the State of Israel is under obligation to cease immediately all new settlements activities and to evacuate all settlers from the OPT, and 4. the State of Israel has an obligation to make reparations for the damage caused to all natural or legal persons concerned in the OPT. The United Church of Canada responded with a letter written to Melanie Joly, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Canada, reminding the Government of Canada not to lose this opportunity but instead to take courageous steps to provide principled leadership within the international community toward a just peace for Palestinians and Israelis, in compliance with international law.

United Church joins Arms Embargo Now campaign and writes to the Canadian government supporting its joint statement with Australia and New Zealand and asking that Canada also abide by international law through an arms embargo The Prime Minister was asked to do the following in response to international law violations linked to Israel’s military and Hamas: ● An immediate, binding, and full embargo on all arms trade with Israel, including trade through third parties, is vital.* Canada must ensure it is not providing supports or materials that could be used in the commission of international law violations. . ● Canada also needs to use all means at its disposal to: ○ pressure Israel to immediately halt its military offensive in Rafah and to end extremist settler violence in Gaza and the West Bank; ○ press for an immediate and lasting ceasefire, and the immediate and unconditional release of all captives held by all parties; ○ publicly support both the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court, cooperating fully with them on the Palestine situation and condemning any threats made against ICC personnel in connection with its work on this situation and any and all cases undertaken by the Court.

delegation of church leaders marched on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, calling urgently for a ceasefire in Gaza, the establishment of a life-saving flow of humanitarian aid and an end to all arms transfers to Israel. They spoke with members of parliament as part of the Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimage. The coalition of church leaders included the United Church Moderator as well as the Rt. Rev. Andrew Asbil, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Toronto; the Rev. Dr. J. Dorcas Gordon, Principal Emerita of Knox College, The Presbyterian Church in Canada; the Rev. Susan Johnson, National Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada; the Rev. Douglas Klassen, Executive Minister of Mennonite Church Canada; and Leah Reesor-Keller, Transitional Executive Director of KAIROS Canada. A news conference broadcast on CPAC followed.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, The Anglican Church of Canada, and The United Church of Canada issued a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The letter dealt with a number of issues, but began by extending appreciation for reinstating funding to UNRWA, the United Nations agency that leads humanitarian aid distribution in the Middle East. It further urged the Canadian government to act on the following: ● An immediate and permanent ceasefire ● An end to sending military aid to Israel ● An investigation into the swarming of a food aid truck in late February ● To act in accordance with international law

At the request of United Church partners, General Secretary Michael Blair sent a letter to Prime Minister Trudeau and other members of the federal government. ‘RE: Canada should support South Africa’s application to the ICJ regarding Israel’s breach of its obligations under the 1948 Genocide Convention, and ban arms sales to Israel "Dear Prime Minister, As Israel’s war on Gaza intensifies, I write to amplify the voices of people of The United Church of Canada and the hundreds of thousands of Canadians urging the government to take moral and decisive actions to support justice and peace. . ."

The Moderator Rt Rev. Dr. Carmen Landsdowne on the direction of the the General Council Executive, its corresponding members, and the members of the National Indigenous Council issued a plea to Prime Minister Trudeau to advocate for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war, recognizing that, in the view of legal experts, genocide is currently taking place. Interfaith News Conference in Ottawa Kairos statement signed by UCC and … Panel discussion by church leaders in Ottawa, U of Ottawa

The United Church issues a statement mourning deaths and injuries and calling for an end to the escalation in violence, noting the harm caused by the Israeli occupation of Palestinians.