Canada has reiterated its firm stance against supplying weapons that could be used in Israel’s war on Gaza, dismissing a July 29 report that alleged Canadian arms continue to reach the occupation forces.

Foreign Minister Anita Anand on Saturday emphasized that Ottawa has imposed — and will maintain — strict restrictions on military exports linked to the Gaza conflict. “Canada has drawn, and will continue to draw, a hard line: since January 2024, we have refused any new permits for controlled goods that could be used in Gaza. Not one has been approved,” she stated.

Anand outlined the government’s measures, noting that Ottawa not only halted new permits but also froze existing ones in 2024 that could potentially supply Israel with components for use in Gaza. “Those permits remain suspended today,” she said.

Canadian law strictly forbids any company from exporting controlled military goods without valid authorization. Anand stressed that any violators would face consequences, including fines, seizures, and possible criminal prosecution. “We will not allow Canadian-made weapons to play any role in this war,” she affirmed.

The remarks follow international concern over arms transfers to Israel amid ongoing accusations of war crimes and genocide in Gaza. While human rights organizations have pressed Canada to ensure full transparency, Anand insisted that allegations in the July 29 report are “misleading and significantly misrepresent the facts.”

She clarified that the items flagged in the report as “bullets” were in fact paintball-style projectiles, accompanied by equipment designed to render a firearm inoperable with traditional ammunition.

Canada’s reaffirmation of its ban comes as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens under Israel’s blockade and military assault — a situation that global observers say makes halting arms sales a moral and legal imperative. (ILKHA)