MEDIA ADVISORY - Fulfill terms of Gaza ceasefire, stop the genocide, allow humanitarian aid, say coalition of humanitarian organizations in Christmas and Hanukkah message

TORONTO, Dec. 22, 2025 /CNW/ - As Canadian families gather to celebrate the holiday season with their children and grandchildren, a stark and heartbreaking contrast unfolds thousands of kilometres away in Gaza, only 75 kilometres from Bethlehem, the birth place of Jesus Christ. For Palestinian children and their families, the indigenous people of Palestine there is no celebration, no respite, no food, no joy--only repeated bombings, sniper attacks, weaponized starvation caused by the deliberate blockade of humanitarian aid, lack of sanitation, and lack of shelter, all inflicted by the Israeli government.

This is now the third holiday season during which Israel has continued its genocidal assault on Palestinians in Gaza. This year, the violence unfolds against the backdrop of a supposed ceasefire, which has been blatantly violated more than 700 times by Israel since it took effect on October 10, 2025. To highlight this ongoing suffering--and Canada's complicity in it--a coalition of humanitarian, medical, and human rights organizations will hold a media conference on December 23, 2025, at 10:00 AM EST in the West Block media studio (Room 135-B) of the Parliament Building in Ottawa.

The coalition includes: Canadians in Support of Refugees in Dire Need (CSRDN); Canadian Muslim Health Network; Canadians United Against Hate; Doctors for Humanity; Eyewitness Gaza; Humanity Auxilium; Independent Jewish Voices (IJV); Justice for All Canada; and United for Peace-Canadian Interfaith Coalition.

The coalition is calling on the Canadian government to fulfill its international legal obligations by working to enforce the ceasefire, secure unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza, and end the blockade that prevents journalists, international monitors, and humanitarian organizations from documenting Israeli crimes and aiding Gaza's people.

Hugh Doherty, co-chair of Canadians in Support of Refugees in Dire Need, declared: "By continuing the bombing and banning tents, blankets, and shelter materials during winter, Israel is directly contravening the ceasefire it agreed to, and continuing the killing of innocent children and civilians. Canada and other states with influence must act decisively to enforce compliance."

Rabbi David Mivasair of Independent Jewish Voices said: "Beyond direct violence, Israel has systematically obstructed humanitarian aid in clear breach of the ceasefire's explicit provisions, increasing the misery and suffering that the people of Gaza have been subjected to." He added, "Essential winter survival items such as tents, mobile homes, blankets, and building materials remain banned by Israel. This calculated restriction has weaponised hunger, disease, and cold against the remaining population of Gaza who have endured more than 800 days of genocide."

Dr. Aliya Khan, co-chair of Doctors for Humanity, stated: ""Despite the relentless winter storms battering Gaza and the unimaginable suffering endured by Palestinian civilians--who face starvation, lack of shelter, and daily bombardment of their tents and homes--Israel continues to wage a devastating campaign that has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions. Thousands of humanitarian aid trucks remain blocked at the border, unable to deliver essential supplies, while the Israeli military has systematically prevented journalists from entering Gaza and has killed over 250 Palestinian reporters in an effort to conceal the scale of atrocities being committed."

Dr. Catherine Clase, co-chair of Doctors for Humanity, emphasized: "Even during this holiday season, when many around the world celebrate peace and goodwill, the Gaza genocide persists unabated with no end in sight. Canada, which has long positioned itself as a defender of human rights, has profoundly betrayed its solemn commitments by failing to uphold its obligations under international law and the numerous treaties and covenants it has signed to protect the weak, the oppressed, and the subjugated, choosing instead to maintain arms exports to Israel and failing to impose any meaningful sanctions on those responsible for these ongoing genocidal crimes."

Dr. Ben Thomson of Eyewitness Gaza noted: "Children in Gaza have been killed and maimed and the assault continues despite a so-called ceasefire. In spite of its legal obligations, Canada has taken no meaningful steps to prevent the ongoing slaughter and starvation of Palestinians, and left them to suffer from injuries that would be treatable outside Gaza."

Brianna Olson Pitawanakwat of United for Peace – Canadian Interfaith Coalition said "This horrific genocide must end now – the continued bombing and blockade on relief is illegal and immoral"

Fareed Khan, founder of Canadians United Against Hate, added: "Canada, as a state party to the Genocide Convention, supporter of UN Security Council resolutions, and core instruments of international humanitarian law, has clear legal obligations to prevent war crimes and hold Israel accountable for the atrocities being committed. Yet the Canadian government's continued inaction by continuing arms transfers, and maintaining diplomatic ties and economic relations without consequence, renders Canada complicit in violations that contravene the very 'rules-based international order' Canadian leaders claim to defend."

Since the ceasefire began, Israel has committed hundreds of documented violations. The Gaza media office reports over 730 breaches between October 10 and December 12, including airstrikes, artillery shelling, sniper fire, and demolitions. These attacks have killed at least 342 Palestinians, adding to the more than 75,000 Palestinian dead, and injured 871 others, the majority women and children. United Nations experts recorded at least 393 violations by late November, resulting in 339 deaths.

United Nations officials report that Israel has rejected more than 100 aid coordination requests since October, and that fewer than 200 aid trucks enter Gaza daily--far below the agreed minimum of 600. The lack of humanitarian aid was amplified in early December when Storm Byron battered Gaza, killing at least 14 people, including numerous children who perished from hypothermia and flooding. Among the victims were were eight-month-old Rahaf Abujazar, whose family tent flooded in Khan Younis; 33-day old infant Taim al-Khawaja in Shati camp; and a two-week-old Muhammed Abu Al-Khair who perished after heavy rains inundated his family's makeshift home.

The organizations in this coalition are calling for urgent action, including:

• Enforcement of the ceasefire through effective international monitoring and broad economic sanctions on Israel for non-compliance;
• Unrestricted entry of humanitarian aid including food, baby formula , tents, blankets, and reconstruction materials, to prevent further deaths from freezing and flooding;
• An independent investigation into all ceasefire violations, with referrals to the International Criminal Court;
• For Canada to halt all weapons transfers and military trade with Israel, revoke existing export licences, impose targeted sanctions on top Israeli officials responsible for violations, and advocate forcefully for UN-led humanitarian corridors into Gaza.

As Canadians prepare to celebrate the holidays with loved ones, the children of Gaza and their families face only cold, hunger, and death. Canada, along with its allies, cannot avert its eyes--especially during the season of peace and goodwill. Upholding justice, humanity, and our own legal obligations demands decisive action now. Anything less constitutes criminal complicity in unspeakable atrocities.

DETAILS
WHAT:  Media Conference to highlight Canada's ongoing complicity in Israel's genocide
WHEN:  Tuesday, December 23, 2025 @ 10:00 AM EST
WHERE: In person – West Block Media Studio, Room 135-B, Parliament Hill, Ottawa, ON
VIRTUALLY: Via Parliamentary Press Gallery Media Feed
NOTE: Journalists who are not members of the Parliamentary Press Gallery (PPG) can get certified to access the media conference video feed by contacting the PPG via email or phone no less than an hour before the media conference begins at the following email address and phone number. ([email protected]  | [phone]). Once you are certified you will be provided with the video link.

SPEAKERS:

• Fareed Khan – Founder, Canadians United Against Hate
• Hugh Doherty – Co-Chair, Canadians in Support of Refugees in Dire Need
• Rabbi David Mivasair – Independent Jewish Voices
• Dr. Aliya Khan – Co-Chair, Doctors for Humanity
• Dr. Catherine Clase – Co-Chair, Doctors for Humanity
• Brianna Olson Pitawanakwat – United for Peace- Canadian Interfaith Coalition

SOURCE Doctors For Humanity Global Health Coalition

MEDIA CONTACT: Fareed Khan, Founder, Canadians United Against Hate, PHONE:  613 • 864 • 6541 (Cell), 819 • 684 • 5061 (Land line), EMAIL:  [email protected]