Foreign Affairs and International Development

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development met to study the situation in Gaza. Alexandre Lévêque, Assistant Deputy Minister for the Europe, Middle East and Arctic Branch, and Rebecca Netley, Legal Adviser and Director General of the International Law Bureau, both from the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development, appeared as witnesses.

Alexandre Lévêque stated that the U.S.-negotiated ceasefire of October 10, 2025, and the comprehensive peace plan present a critical opportunity, though the ceasefire remains fragile. He outlined Canada’s three imperatives: scaling up life-saving aid, supporting stability and recovery, and backing the Palestinian Authority’s reform agenda to enable it to reassume governance in Gaza. He noted that Canada has deployed personnel to a U.S.-led Civil-Military Coordination Center to monitor the ceasefire, and that a UN Security Council resolution to establish an international stabilization force is a positive development. He confirmed that the Palestinian Authority made written commitments to Canada on reforms, elections, and demilitarization, but that no strict deadlines were imposed for demilitarization, and that once a state is recognized, it cannot be unrecognized under international law. He also said that Canada has not sanctioned all Israeli officials who may have committed wrongdoing, as the current focus is on building trust rather than using coercive tools, and that sanctions require specific triggers under Canadian law.

Rebecca Netley addressed questions on the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for Prime Minister Netanyahu, stating that Canada considers the ICC an independent and impartial tribunal and defers to it on jurisdictional decisions. She clarified that the ICC did not conclude Israel is a failed state, but rather that it did not see evidence of a domestic investigation, and that Israel’s court system, military tribunals, and basic state functions are operating. She confirmed that Global Affairs Canada briefed the Prime Minister’s Office on the principle of complementarity but did not advise the Prime Minister directly on his statement about the arrest warrant.

The committee discussed procedural matters and agreed to proceed with the meeting as scheduled.