We have the first Western Allied dissenters to Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza.
Canada has voted to cease their arms shipments to Israel. Ireland’s Prime Minister Leo Varadkar quit in protest against the war on Gaza. The Canadian motion that was passed stops short of a complete arms embargo and still allows for military equipment to be sent to Israel if it complies with Canadian laws. While the Canadians could have taken this bill and eliminated their complicity in the genocide of innocent Palestinians and assisted in protecting humanity, they stopped short.
On the other hand, the resignation of Varadkar is a significant step in protesting the global power structure of oppression. What Varadkar did is what anyone who works within a government that is advocating for the killing of innocent people and silencing those who oppose genocide should do. Every person who has a shred or morality should quit and disrupt the functioning of an oppressive government. This was an admirable action to take, and hopefully Varadkar aligns himself with a humanitarian aid organization in the future. He has not attributed his resignation as a protest to Gaza, but it comes a day after he visited the White House and confronted President Biden on his support and complicity in the genocide of Palestinians. If Varadkar wanted to make a greater impact, he should share his thoughts as he did when he called out Biden, but the fact that he is not, weakens the impact.
So, while these are meaningful actions because they are western allies to the US who is actively pushing for Israel’s genocide in Gaza, they could be taking huge steps for the millions of Palestinian whose lives are on the line. The suffering of the entrapped Palestinians is something that no country should be proud of or support, yet they are taking such meager and lukewarm efforts. This shows the level of influence and fear that the US has instilled in other countries.
This criticism is not meant to erase these steps, but to help push countries and leaders to take major action to end the genocide in Gaza.
Will the US retaliate against Canada and Varadkar? Yes, the US will and that’s why Canada did not go so far as to sanction Israeli officials and for a complete arms embargo, and also why Varadkar did not release a statement as to why he resigned as prime minister. They are both scared, but are trying to do something.
This is not the time for fear. This is the time for everyone to stand up to Goliath and for all of the David’s around the world to throw their stone. If the US reprimands or attacks another government or person for supporting Palestine, the people who care about humanity will support them and defend them.
These are small steps in the right direction. Let’s make these steps bigger. Let’s encourage governments and officials to keep this momentum going and not fear the repercussions.
Netanyahu has stated that he plans to invade Rafah with a ground assault which would kill many displaced Palestinians who have been forced to flee there. Israel has attacked another hospital and imprisoned the hospital employees. There are but a handful of aid trucks that make it through the border into Gaza. Palestinians are starving to death. All Palestinians trapped in Gaza are being tortured by Israel. We need world leaders to vehemently oppose such horrors and atrocities and take massive steps to help and end the genocide.
The fact that more countries are not enacting complete embargoes and sanctions on Israel and the US is appalling, and voters must remove these oppressors from power or the entire world will remain in jeopardy of such dangerous and vile reasoning and actions.
If your country is not supporting humanity and peace, it is supporting oppression, profit, and death. Call them out. Vote them out.
From the river to the sea, may Palestine be free. May the whole world be free.
Protest
Boycott
Vote 3rd party
Disrupt everything
BE UNGOVERNABLE
Demand sanctions and embargoes for Israel, US, UK, France, Germany, Australia, UAE, Russia, and Rwanda.
Please extend your energy to other countries and people facing atrocities and genocide in Sudan, Congo, Haiti, West Papua, the Rohingyas, Armenians, and the Uyghurs.
Articles for reference. Please read and share.
CJPME: Parliament votes to end arms exports to Israel in watered-down motion: CJPM
Al Jazeera: Ireland’s PM Leo Varadkar announces resignation