We acknowledge Canada’s recent joint statement with France and the UK warning Israel of potential sanctions if it continues to obstruct humanitarian aid. But after nearly 20 months of siege, starvation, and indiscriminate killing, statements are not sufficient.

Canada must move from statements to action—and do so urgently.

Over 2 million Palestinians remain trapped under siege in Gaza, deprived of food, water, medicine, and safety. The humanitarian situation is not just dire but catastrophic. According to UN officials, 14,000 babies could die immediately due to lack of aid. This is a deliberate policy of deprivation, not a logistical failure.

Allowing a trickle of trucks through closed crossings while controlling aid through military channels is not progress; it is obstruction. It violates core humanitarian principles and undermines the very systems designed to save lives.

This is a defining moment; not only for Gaza, but for all of us. To allow this level of human suffering to continue is to abdicate our responsibility as a global community. We call on those in power to act with courage and conscience. The lives of millions depend on it.

When this plan was first presented weeks ago, IDRF decided to deliver aid only through trusted and coordinated humanitarian channels. This proactive decision was rooted in our commitment to upholding humanitarian principles and ensuring that aid reaches those who need it most. We will not abandon the people of Gaza.

Mahmood Qasim 

IDRF Chief Executive Officer