Canadian Families of Hamas Victims Sue Canadian Government over UNRWA Funding

Canadian families who lost loved ones in the horrific Hamas terrorist attacks on October 7, 2023, together with the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), on Thursday, April 4, filed a Federal Court application for judicial review of the Government of Canada’s decision to resume funding for the UNRWA, contending that the decision to do so was patently unreasonable because it violates Canadian law.

Though there is no dispute that humanitarian aid is needed and must urgently reach the civilian population in Gaza, the application lays out the arguments of why UNRWA cannot be the agency to fulfill this responsibility and should be disqualified from funding.

CIJA noted in a statement that Under Canadian Law, funding can only be advanced to organizations that respect Canadian values and international human rights standards. Additionally, given UNRWA’s well-documented links to Hamas, a terrorist organization under Canadian law, by resuming Canadian funding to UNRWA, the government violates its own anti-terrorism legislation, said CIJA.

Alongside CIJA, the applicants of the lawsuit are Dikla Mizrachi, mother of Ben Mizrachi; Iris Liniado, daughter of Judih Weinstein Haggai; Jacqui Vital, mother of Adi Vital-Kaploun; and Raquel Ohnona, mother of Alexandre Look, Canadians who lost family members to Hamas violence since October 7.

Dikla Mizrachi, Iris Liniado, Jacqui Vital, and Raquel Ohnona said in a joint statement, “Our families are appalled and sickened by the decision of the Canadian government to reinstate funding to UNRWA given its ties and support of the terrorism that took our loved ones’ lives.” (INN /VFI News)

“God, we pray that Canada and all Western countries cease their funding of UNRWA and find alternative organizations that assist Gazan civilians. We pray that the Canadian families’s pleas will be heard by the Canadian government and for justice to be done. We pray that anyone who participated in the October 7 massacre will not be given additional power over people’s lives.”