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OTTAWA — MPs are set to vote Monday on an NDP motion calling on the government to officially recognize a Palestinian state, testing deep splits in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal caucus over the Israel-Hamas war.
The motion also calls on the government to advocate for an end to what it calls the “decades-long occupation of Palestinian territories.” It calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all hostages, an arms embargo against Israel, unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza and a lifting of the “arbitrary cap” on the government’s temporary resident visa applications from Gazans.
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The House of Commons is scheduled to vote on the motion Monday afternoon.
“On Monday the NDP has a motion that it pitches as a call for a ceasefire. It does so without demanding Hamas surrender & no longer rule Gaza. it also calls for a litany of other things hostile to Israel. Changing foreign policy to reward a terrorist attack. Not smart,” said Liberal MP Anthony Housefather, on X.
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The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs launched a petition in opposition to the motion, saying it “threatens Canada’s values, foreign policy, and support of Israel, while giving Hamas what it wants: recognition and support.”
Liberal MP Salma Zahid has said she will vote in favour of the motion.
The Liberals have been in talks with the NDP about amending the motion, although it’s unknown what the contents of the amendment would be, iPolitics reported on Saturday.
The war in Gaza started when Hamas terrorists stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people, including several Canadians. The attack, and Israel’s subsequent military campaign to destroy Hamas in Gaza, has been dividing the Liberal caucus ever since.
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Rob Oliphant, parliamentary secretary to Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly, apologized last month for saying two of his caucus colleagues were “arrogant” for calling on Canada to back South Africa’s allegations at a UN court that Israel was committing “genocide.”
In a previous leaked conversation with a constituent obtained by CBC News, Oliphant also criticized the government’s decision to pause funding to the Palestinian-support agency UNRWA, saying it was a “political” decision to appease Canada’s allies.
The Liberal government restored its funding commitment to UNRWA last week, a month before its next $25 million payment to UNRWA was due.
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