Ottawa, March 6 (RHC)-- A group of Canadian and Palestinian human rights lawyers have filed a lawsuit against the Canadian government for “contributing” to the bombardment of the Gaza Strip through sending arms to Israel.

The coalition of the lawyers filed a complaint against Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly on Tuesday over issuing permits for export of military equipment to Israel.  The group includes Canadian Lawyers for International Human Rights and Al-Haq – Law in the Services of Man, an independent Palestinian NGO.

In the lawsuit, the group argued that Canada’s Export and Import Permits Act prevents the federal government from issuing permits for export of military goods and related technology to Israel because those exports can pose serious risks by undermining peace and security.

They said the weapons could be used to commit serious violations of international law and serious acts of violence against women and children in Palestine.  The lawyers said the government needs to stop contributing to Israel’s mass starvation of Palestinians and bombardment of Gaza.

Back in January, Canadian Lawyers for International Human Rights (CLAIHR), one of the groups involved in the case, urged the government to “immediately halt” all arms exports to Israel.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also stands accused of misleading the public over weapons sales to Israel.  Trudeau has repeatedly been urged to end arms exports to the Israeli regime. But his government has so far tried to downplay the country’s role in helping Israel build its arsenal.

More than 200 parliamentarians from 12 countries have urged their governments to impose a ban on arms sales to Israel.  On Friday, a group of more than 200 lawmakers from 12 countries, including the United States and Canada, signed a letter to call on their governments to impose a ban on arms sales to Israel.

Niki Ashton, a member of Canada's Parliament was among the signatories of that letter.  Ashton said in a message on the X social media platform that the Canadian government has approved $28 million worth of weapons exports to Israel since the regime started its brutal military campaign in early October.

“That is horrifying,” Ashton said, adding:  “Make no mistake.  These weapons are directly used to kill and maim starving Palestinians.”

Countries supplying arms to Israel have been facing mounting pressure to halt weapons sale to Tel Aviv since the regime launched its military offensive against Gaza in early October.  Israeli forces have so far killed more than 30,500 Palestinians, mostly children and women, in the besieged territory.