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Toronto Sun
7 days ago
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
Canada bypassing of UN to deliver aid to Gaza "cautiously" praised
Abraham Global Peace Initiative founder Avi Benlolo says Canada needs to stop relying on organizations like UNRWA to feed hungry Gazans Canadian Forces crews drop supplies from an RCAF C-130 Hercules over Gaza on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025 Photo by Cpl. Marc-André Leclerc / DND photo OTTAWA — While praising Canada for bypassing the United Nations to make Monday's airdrop of humanitarian supplies in Gaza, a leading Canadian Jewish organization took note of the government's lack of mention for a contentious UN organization with ties to Palestinian terror. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Avi Benlolo, founder of the Abraham Global Peace Initiative (AGPI,) told The Toronto Sun he found it odd that Canada offered no word of thanks for Israel's role in facilitating Monday's relief mission — only thanking neighbouring Jordan. 'I was surprised that Israel wasn't mentioned in the Canadian press release, stating that Israel helped and assisted in this effort,' Benlolo said, noting the RCAF airdrop couldn't have happened without Israeli permission to enter their airspace. 'It's really too bad, because it shows that they don't want to give any kind of recognition to Israel in a positive way.' Indeed, Tuesday's press release from Global Affairs Canada accused Israel of being complicit in food shortages in Gaza, saying Israel's supposed 'obstruction of aid' violates international humanitarian law. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Many news organizations were hoodwinked by photos of a Gazan child with serious genetic conditions, erroneously citing the photo as proof of an Israeli-mandated famine in Gaza. Last week, the New York Times published a retraction after featuring the photo on its front page. Outrage over the photo prompted numerous nations, including Canada, to vow to formally recognize Palestinian statehood at the UN next month. Recommended video The Toronto Sun reached out to Global Affairs Canada for comment, which said it wasn't possible to respond by press time. Canada's airdrop, coordinated with other nations, saw 21,600 pounds of aid delivered directly to Gazans, bypassing on-the-ground agencies like the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) — whose close and demonstrated ties to Hamas have raised numerous questions. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Video and photos released on Monday by Israel's Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) painted a much different picture of life in Gaza, showing bustling markets stocked with fresh produce and busy bakeries making bread. The organization said over 300 truckloads of aid entered Gaza earlier this week. Facilitated by UNRWA, Hamas regularly diverts Israeli aid shipments coming into Gaza, opting to sell the supplies to fund their war on Israel while everyday Gazans starve. While Benlolo and AGPI say they're 'encouraged' by Canada's move to bypass UNRWA and Hamas, he noted the government's press release also made no mention of UNRWA. 'UNRWA hasn't been good to the Palestinian people at all,' Benlolo said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Rather than helping them support themselves and build up their own state and economy, it's been putting them on perpetual welfare — and we all know that that's not a good way to get people off the ground.' He also noted UNRWA's complicity in Hamas terrorism, including facilitating the radicalization of Palestinian children in UN schools, using UN facilities to store weapons, and Hamas accessing UNRWA networking and power infrastructure in their underground bunkers. Attempts to circumvent the UN to deliver aid, namely the U.S.-led Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF,) have been met with derision — including Hamas issuing warnings to Gazans not to accept GHF aid under threat of punishment or death. Last April, the National Post gained exclusive access to Israeli intelligence — the same intelligence shared with the PMO — showing UNRWA employees and teachers moonlighting as senior members of Palestinian terror groups, and even taking an active role in the Oct. 7 terror attacks. Benlolo's message to the Canadian government was simple. 'Stop enabling that organization and start helping build a better system that will lift the Palestinians, but not fund them in perpetuity,' he said. 'Many Palestinian people have said quite candidly that UNRWA is a detriment, so it's time for the world to recognize this.' bpassifiume@ X: @bryanpassifiume Canada World Toronto & GTA Toronto Maple Leafs Canada
Sinar Daily
05-08-2025
- Politics
- Sinar Daily
Canadian Armed Forces airdrop 10 tonnes of aid into Gaza
Canada called for immediate changes to facilitate aid delivery to Gaza, including safe and unimpeded access for humanitarian groups, the opening of all border crossings, swift customs clearance approvals and long-term visas for aid workers. 05 Aug 2025 09:00am This handout photo from the Canadian Armed Forces obtained on Aug 4, 2025, shows an airdrop of humanitarian aid from a CC-130J Hercules over the Gaza Strip on Aug 4, 2025. - (Photo by Caporal Marc-André Leclerc / Canadian Armed Forces / AFP) TRENTON - Canada has airdropped 10 tonnes of humanitarian aid into Gaza and condemned the Israeli government's obstruction of assistance as a violation of international law, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported according to a joint statement issued Monday. "Canada is taking these exceptional measures with our international partners as access to humanitarian aid in Gaza is severely restricted and humanitarian needs have reached an unprecedented level," said Foreign Minister Anita Anand and Defence Minister David McGuinty in the joint release. "Despite the scale of need, humanitarian partners face severe challenges in delivering life-saving food and medical assistance by land due to ongoing restrictions imposed by the Israeli government. A boy fills up containers with water from the remaining water still left in underground pipes, in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip on April 24, 2025. - (Photo by BASHAR TALEB / AFP) This obstruction of aid is a violation of international humanitarian law and must end immediately," it read. Five other countries also delivered aid during the same mission, namely the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Jordan, Egypt, Germany and Belgium, the Israeli army said in a post on X. In the news release, Canada called for immediate changes to facilitate aid delivery to Gaza, including safe and unimpeded access for humanitarian groups, the opening of all border crossings, swift customs clearance approvals and long-term visas for aid workers. The ministers described conditions in Gaza as "deplorable", stressing that a "dramatic scale-up" in humanitarian assistance was imperative. Despite mounting international pressure for a ceasefire, the Israeli forces has continued its attacks on Gaza since Oct 7, 2023, killing nearly 61,000 Palestinians, almost half of them women and children. The sustained bombardment has devastated the enclave and pushed it to the brink of famine. - BERNAMA More Like This
