SAVE THE CHILDREN STATEMENT ON THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA’S RECENT RESPONSE TO THE SITUATION IN GAZA

Toronto, May 21, 2025 – The governments of Canada, France, and the United Kingdom have warned of concrete action if the Government of Israel does not halt the conflict in Gaza and lift aid restrictions.  

Additionally, the Foreign Ministers of 23 countries as well as EU High Representative and Commissions issued a joint statement on humanitarian aid to Gaza, calling for a full and immediate resumption of aid and for the UN and humanitarian organizations to be allowed to work independently and impartially.  

Save the Children welcomes the news that the Government of Canada is taking a stronger leadership position for the children of Gaza – as it is long overdue. 

For the first time in over two months, five trucks of food and medicine were allowed into Gaza – a completely inadequate response when 600 trucks were entering daily before the war. This is the lowest point in 19 months of relentless conflict. Aid agencies have run out of supplies. Half a million people are on the brink of famine. Children are dying because of hunger. This is a human-made catastrophe, and it was entirely preventable. 

Save the Children President and CEO Danny Glenwright said, “What is happening in Gaza is a profound moral failure. We welcome the Government of Canada’s step forward in issuing forceful statements recognizing the severity of the situation and condemning the government of Israel’s actions.  But the time for leaders to deliver ultimatums is past — thousands of innocent children have been killed, their lives cut short before they had a chance to begin. Gaza’s children need urgent, decisive action, especially from the Government of Canada and the international community.” 

The Government of Canada must do everything in its power to end the catastrophic death and destruction in Gaza and the West Bank. 

Palestinian children cannot wait any longer. 

The Government of Canada’s decision to take a stance against the denial of humanitarian access in Gaza is commendable, but it must go further. Save the Children reiterates its calls for: 

• An immediate and definitive ceasefire; 
• Full and unrestricted humanitarian access; 
• Working with international human rights actors and accountability mechanisms – both judicial and non-judicial – to address and prevent grave violations of children’s rights, including the killing and maiming of children, attacks on schools and hospitals, abduction, and the denial of aid; 
• Protection of humanitarian workers and principles; and 
• Halting all direct and indirect transfer of weapons, parts, and ammunition to the Government of Israel and Israeli forces, while there is a risk they are used to commit or facilitate violations of international humanitarian or human rights law. 

This is a turning point. The world cannot look away. If we fail to act now, countless more children will die. The blockade must end. The killing must stop.  

The Liberal party election platform committed to Canada showing up on the world stage in defence of its values and championing human rights, democracy and the rule of law. This moment is the new government’s first test of this commitment. Canada must step up now.