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Protection of Palestinian Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons

Resolution number
1
Whereas
  1. Palestinians represent the world’s longest protracted refugee situation and largest stateless community;
  2. More than 80% of Gaza's population are refugees or descendants of refugees who fled their homes in 1948, and more than 90% of Palestinians in Gaza are now internally displaced, according to a November 2024 United Nations report;
  3. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ruled that Israel's occupation of Gaza and the West Bank and construction of settlements is unlawful under international law, and that Israel has violated the international prohibition on racial segregation and apartheid. The ICJ mandated Israel to end its illegal occupation, dismantle settlements, provide reparations and facilitate the return of displaced people;
  4. The urgency of this situation is compounded by the fact that in its first provisional order the ICJ has found it 'plausible' that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, and has ordered Israel to take immediate measures to prevent and address such risks, including protecting civilians and allowing unimpeded humanitarian access, which is particularly crucial for refugees and internally displaced persons facing dire conditions in Gaza;
  5. The ICJ has called for the collective responsibility of states and international organizations to refrain from supporting or legitimizing actions that contribute to unlawful occupation, displacement, or the obstruction of humanitarian aid;
  6. As of November 22, 2024, almost 14 months into Israel's ongoing assault on Gaza, Israel has cut off water, gas, electricity, and medical supplies; targeted journalists, medical personnel, aid workers, religious sites, hospitals, schools, every university in Gaza, and even designated “safe” evacuation routes, and forcibly starved and displaced almost 2 million Palestinians. Israel has killed an estimated 186,000 Palestinian refugees and IDPs in Gaza, thousands of children (20,000 of whom are estimated to be missing), more than 885 healthcare workers, more than 280 aid workers (highest number of aid workers killed in United Nations history), more than 130 journalists, and countless students and academics;
  7. The CCR has a particular responsibility to take timely and decisive action to protect refugees and the forcibly displaced persons where their lives and well-being are seriously threatened by active military aggression. 

 

Therefore be it resolved

that the CCR:

  1. Recognise the rights of Palestinians to self-determination and to live a life free from violence, oppression, occupation, famine and genocide;
  2. Affirm the right of return for all Palestinian refugees and IDPs;
  3. Recognise and condemn the catastrophic situation in Gaza as an ongoing genocide and ethnic cleansing of refugees and internally displaced persons and call for a permanent ceasefire;
  4. Recognise, adopt, and integrate the definition for “Anti-Palestinian Racism,” as described by the 2022 Arab Canadian Lawyers Association report, into relevant future policies, communications and practices;
  5. Call on the Canadian government to adopt measures to counteract “Anti-Palestinian Racism” as described by the 2022 Arab Canadian Lawyers Association report in all its policies and practices, including immigration policies;
  6. Demand that the Canadian government, including relevant ministries, end Canada’s complicity in the genocide and ethnic cleansing of Palestinian refugees and IDPs, including but not limited to advocating for a full, two-way and immediate arms embargo on Israel until it complies with international law;
  7. Call on the Canadian government to fulfill Canada’s legal obligation to uphold and support the emergency measures recommended by the ICJ and the full implementation of ICJ and International Criminal Court (ICC) rulings.

 

Working Group
Overseas Protection and Resettlement