Since October 7, Israeli forces have dropped 50,000 tonnes of explosives on homes, hospitals and schools in Gaza. And yet, we’re always asked, “Did you condemn Hamas?”

Netanyahu says the war will continue until he achieves his goals. What goals can you achieve by bombing thousands of children, by starving and freezing people to death, by depriving innocent people of water and fuel? Babies in incubators died because their electricity was cut off. And yet, we are still asked, “Did you condemn Hamas?”

So let me make it very clear. Yes, we did.

But where is the condemnation for killing over 15,000 innocent Palestinians, for forcing 1.8 million Palestinians out of their own homes, and for the torture and humiliation of people in the West Bank, where there is no Hamas? Have we lost our conscience? How can we condone the killing of innocent people?

Canada must call for an immediate ceasefire.

As Secretary-General Agnès Callamard of Amnesty International said, “For 16 years, Israel’s illegal blockade has made Gaza the world’s biggest open-air prison—the international community must act now to prevent it from becoming a giant graveyard.”

Let’s call for a ceasefire now.