Channel Canadian aid through UN
Petitioners ask the Government of Canada to reject militarized aid and channel Canadian assistance to Gaza only through UN‑led, neutral humanitarian organizations. The government responds that it supports unhindered UN‑led aid and funds humanitarian partners.
Why we would sign this petition
- Ensures aid reaches civilians via neutral channels, reducing the risk of politicized or militarized distribution.
- Restoring UN and NGO access would enable experienced agencies to deliver coordinated, large‑scale humanitarian assistance.
- Insisting on safe entry for Canadian healthcare workers protects medical response capacity and civilian health services.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Conditioning funding and excluding some actors could delay deliveries where alternatives are limited, worsening urgent needs.
- Publicly rejecting a partner’s aid model may reduce diplomatic leverage and complicate negotiations needed to secure access for aid workers.
- Requiring all aid to flow only through UN‑led systems could be impractical if those mechanisms cannot operate in certain areas, leaving gaps.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
PETITION TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS IN PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED We, the undersigned residents of Canada, draw the attention of the House of Commons in Parliament Assembled to the following: Whereas: Under Common Article 1 of the Geneva Conventions, Canada is required to respect international humanitarian law; Under Article 59 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, Israel as an occupying power must allow and facilitate humanitarian aid by impartial organizations; Canada's own international Assistance Accountability Act requires that all Canadian foreign aid uphold human rights and international legal standards; and Israel's policy and actions violate all of these obligations. Therefore, we, the undersigned, Citizens and Residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to: 1. Publicly and unequivocally reject the militarized aid model currently used in Palestine; 2. Demand the full restoration of access for UN agencies and established humanitarian NGOs, including UNRWA and the World Food Programme; 3. Insist on safe and immediate entry for Canadian healthcare workers and other international humanitarian personnel to Palestine; 4. Withhold Canadian funding from any entity or model that does not comply with principles of neutrality, impartiality, independence, and humanity; 5. Ensure that all Canadian aid to Gaza is delivered through internationally recognized humanitarian channels.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Signed by Rob Oliphant The Canadian government continues to strongly oppose the expansion of Israel’s military operations in Gaza, Israel’s imposition of restrictions on aid, and any attempts to expand settlements in the West Bank. International humanitarian law must be respected. Through diplomatic channels and public statements, Canada continues to call on Israel to allow the full and unhindered resumption of United Nations-led humanitarian aid into and throughout Gaza, at scale. Canada has strongly condemned the rising number of Palestinians killed while attempting to access scarce aid since the introduction of Israel’s new aid distribution modality last May 2025. The protection of civilians is paramount. Canada has and will continue to urge Israel to protect civilians, including medical and humanitarian workers, as well as civilian infrastructure, such as hospitals, and to ensure the continuity of medical services to the civilian population. The government has been vocal on all these messages. Recent examples include: On May 19, 2025, the Prime Minister of Canada, along with the leaders of France and the United Kingdom, issued a public statement calling on the Israeli Government to stop its military operations in Gaza, lift restrictions on humanitarian aid meant to enter Gaza, and engage with the United Nations to ensure a return to the delivery of aid in line with humanitarian principles. In that statement, the Government of Canada condemned language used by members of the Israeli government threatening that, in their despair at the destruction of Gaza, civilians will start to relocate. The Government of Canada promised concrete actions if Israel did not cease the renewed military offensive, lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid, and cease the expansion of settlements. The Government also stated that permanent forced displacement is a breach of international humanitarian law. On June 3, 2025, the Canadian government expressed shock at the deaths of Palestinians seeking aid in Gaza and called for the United Nations-led resumption of aid throughout Gaza. The government also expressed alarm at Israel’s evacuation of Al-Awda Hospital, the last operational medical facility in northern Gaza. Palestinians in Gaza must be able to access life-saving medical aid. On June 10, 2025, Canada announced sanctions and other measures targeting Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich for inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. These measures were taken in coordination with the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Norway, and are in response to the recent escalation of violence by Israeli extremist settlers and affiliates against Palestinian civilians and their property in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, contributing to insecurity for both Palestinians and Israelis. Settlements violate international law and undermine the viability of a future Palestinian state and, of a just and lasting peace through a two-state solution. On June 16, 2025, as G7 Chair, Canada led on a G7 Leaders’ statement that reiterated the importance of protecting civilians and the de-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East. And on June 26, 2025, Canada strongly condemned Israeli fire on Palestinian civilians seeking aid and called on all parties to uphold international humanitarian law and allow United Nations-led humanitarian assistance to reach civilians throughout Gaza. Canada has also taken significant action to support humanitarian relief in Palestine and to lay the foundations for long-term peace and stability by supporting the development of institutions and socio-economic conditions necessary for a viable 2-state solution. Since October 2023, Canada has committed more than $400 million in international assistance in response to the humanitarian crisis in Palestine. This includes over $270 million in humanitarian assistance to experienced United Nation, Red Cross and non-government organisation partners with the necessary capacity on the ground to respond when access conditions allow. Canada has a robust system in place to ensure that our funds go only to organizations that alleviate suffering by respecting humanitarian principles, upholding human rights and respecting international humanitarian law. Examples include the World Food Programme, the World Health Organisation, the Canadian Red Cross, and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. Canada is a longstanding supporter of United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, which plays a critical role assisting Palestinians, particularly with their experienced staff working in education and healthcare. On October 27, 2024, Canada led a statement with likeminded partner countries opposing Israel’s legislation against United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East’s operations. In August 2025, the Canadian Armed Forces conducted a humanitarian airdrop into Gaza, delivering nearly 10,000 kilograms of food aid. The Royal Jordanian Airforce also carried out several air drops of Canadian-funded aid. This was part of a coordinated international effort to address severe restrictions on land-based aid delivery. The Government of Canada recognizes that air drops cannot serve as a substitute to land-based delivery and air drops in no way change Canada’s position on the urgent need for large-scale land-based humanitarian aid deliveries into and throughout Gaza under the United Nation-led system. We continue to urge Israel to facilitate this and to put all measures possible in place to ensure the safety and security of humanitarian aid workers. On September 21, 2025, Canada announced its recognition of the State of Palestine as a necessary step to preserve the prospect of a two-state solution, in the face of ongoing efforts to undermine it. This decision was taken in concert with key allies, recognizing that there was no room for delay in coordinating international action to support peace, security, and the dignity of all human life. Canada’s recognition of the State of Palestine was predicated on the Palestinian Authority’s commitments to: implement much-needed reforms, including the commitments by President Abbas to fundamentally reform its governance; hold general elections in 2026 in which Hamas can play no part; not militarize the Palestinian state. Preserving a two-state solution means standing with all people who choose peace over violence or terrorism and honouring their innate desire for the peaceful co-existence of Israeli and Palestinian states as the only roadmap for a secure and prosperous future. Canada will also intensify efforts to support the Palestinian Authority’s implementation of its reform agenda so that it can deliver effective, democratic governance for Palestinians. On September 23, 2025, Canada announced over $47 million in new funding to strengthen economic resilience, judicial systems, governance structures, and democratization efforts in the West Bank and Gaza. Hamas, a listed terrorist organization in Canada, can play no role in Gaza’s future governance. With our international partners, Canada welcomes the leadership of the United States in putting forward a viable path for lasting peace and we stand ready to work with the United States and international partners to realize the full potential of this plan. Canada strongly supports United States, Egyptian, and Qatari efforts to bring an end to the war. A ceasefire, the immediate release of all hostages, the resumption of impartial humanitarian aid flows, and good-faith negotiations to advance a political solution to the conflict are the only way forward. A pathway towards a two-state solution is urgently needed.