Kinew calls for ceasefire in Gaza

Shalom. Ramadan Kareem.

Today, I call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

I say this as someone who abhors the carnage of Oct. 7, 2023 and who believes that Hamas should be destroyed.

I say this as someone who has heard the outcry in the Palestinian community and beyond.

I say this as someone who deeply laments the division the war in Gaza has caused for people here in Manitoba – for the Muslim Manitobans who have been targeted by Islamophobia, for the Jewish Canadians afraid to go to class because of anti-semitism.

I make this call today because the scale of destruction we have now witnessed and the emergence of famine in Gaza are incompatible with the values that unite us Manitobans – respect for human rights, a desire to live in peace and pluralism, and a commitment to advance reconciliation.

I respect that, on their face, the comments I make today may cause hurt in some quarters. I call for the ceasefire as someone with a great desire to be a good friend and ally to Manitoba’s Jewish community and as someone who firmly believes in Israel’s right to exist. I am deeply compelled to be a good friend and ally of Manitoba’s Muslim community. I ask with the greatest of humility that my fellow Manitobans ponder the rationale I lay out with an open mind.

I call for a ceasefire after considering several questions that I would ask everyone to entertain.

The first question: is this the only way to conduct a war against Hamas?

I believe Israel is justified in targeting Hamas given Hamas’ intention to kill Jewish people based solely on their Jewish identity, and the violence Hamas has shown in carrying out that intention.

But I also know that the war cabinet of Israel had a choice in how it decided to conduct the war.

The decision the Israeli government had was whether to target Hamas narrowly, with the maximum amount of protections for civilian life in Gaza, or to prosecute the war in a manner which showed little regard for civilians, their homes and infrastructure, or the food and water necessary to sustain life.

After some five months of war in Gaza, have we seen the government of Israel wage this war in a way that is narrow and targeted, or in a way that shows little regard for civilians?

Some may argue it is unfair to hold Israel to such a standard, that they be expected to wield their military might in a responsible fashion during an asynchronous conflict.

But Israel is strong and the strong have a responsibility to exercise their power in a way that is just. I would expect this of any democracy or, indeed, any country in good standing with the international community as Israel is. Civilian lives must be protected.

The second question is whether it is just to hold people collectively responsible for the few?

Consider the Jewish students who face hostility on Manitoba campuses because of the actions of the government of Israel. Holding Jewish people collectively responsible for the actions of the state of Israel is anti-Semitism, and it is wrong. This is a reminder for us to continue to support the Jewish community in Manitoba through this difficult period and to remind any advocates for Gaza to not veer into anti-Semitism.

But if it is anti-Semitic to hold Jewish people collectively responsible for the actions of the government of Israel, then what is it if the Palestinian people appear to be held collectively responsible for the inhumane actions of Hamas?

The international norms and conventions which ask world powers to distinguish between civilians and aggressors would seem to suggest a similar conclusion.

The third question I ask you to consider is what is causing the famine in Gaza?

Hunger is not something free-thinking people should tolerate. The emergence of famine, therefore, should be unfathomable.

It has been said that contemporary famines, in a world with abundant wealth, are human caused.

Consider that the international community is trying to send food and water into Gaza, and America is building a temporary port to do so.

Consider that Canada, as well as other nations, have resumed support for aid and are now working to air drop this assistance into the strip.

Why are existing ports and border crossings not sufficient to see humanitarian help distributed? Why is it said that a quarter of the population in Gaza is now visited by famine?

The famine in Gaza is caused by the war. Specifically, it is caused by the way the war is being waged, and the impacts of this famine are being borne by civilians – women and children included.

Israel should work with their partners at the international level to get more aid into Gaza immediately. Hamas should immediately end disruptions to the delivery of this aid.

So many of our ancestors, no matter which walks of life we come from, had to survive famine in our pasts.

During those times of starvation, would we not have wanted our fellow human beings to help, or at the very least to speak out in favour of sustaining life?

Does the existence of a famine in our time not compel us to act?

The fourth question is what does it mean for us to be a good ally? A good ally to Israelis and Jewish people? A good ally to Palestinians and Muslims?

To be a good ally to Palestinians means speaking up for human rights in this moment – starting with the right to life.

And, let us not forget in our advocacy for human rights that Israel is an ally.

Israel is an important ally in the Middle East, particularly as a democracy, and particularly as a counterbalance against other world powers who oppose Canada’s commitment to human rights. Israel is also an ally against the proxies of those world powers who oppose human rights, proxies who are at work in the region.

Israel is an ally, this is a fact.

But doesn’t a true relationship mean telling your friend about your concerns and remind them of the values that resonate with Jewish people, Muslims and all Manitobans?

I want Muslims in Manitoba to be able to live in peace, I want the same for Jewish people here in our province. I want people from both communities to be able to live together, just like people from every other background.

We are one province and we don’t have to agree on everything in order for us to live together, to do good things together, and to respect one another. The prospect of this pluralism is founded on our ongoing commitment to human rights.

The wounds caused by this conflict will take a long time to heal here in Manitoba, to say nothing of their legacies in Israel and Gaza.

Each day the war continues pushes the prospect of reconciliation in our province further and further away.

The hostages should be freed immediately.

The sexual violence perpetrated against Israeli citizens on Oct. 7 is a violation of our collective humanity.

Hamas should be eliminated.

I say these things, and still, I call for a ceasefire.

People in Gaza have a right to live.

Children have a right to food.

Everyone has a right to water.

It is time for a ceasefire.

I call on the Government of Canada to say the same.

Ramadan Kareem. Shalom.

Miigwech.