The “No Nickel for Genocide” petition has exceeded 3,000 signatures, hitting 3,113 as of mid-day on Wednesday.
The petition was launched on June 12 by local peace advocate David Starbuck, and seeks to ban the sale of nickel to Israel, as well as armament manufacturers supplying Israel.
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs issued a statement countering the petition, in which they said, “attempts to isolate Israel diplomatically or economically are counterproductive, and often serve as thinly veiled attacks on Israel’s legitimacy.”
In conversation with Sudbury.com last month, Starbuck explained that the petition has pacifist intentions, and targets Israel due to their ongoing bombardment of Gaza.
The United Nations Human Rights Council special rapporteur Francesca Albanese determined earlier this year that there were reasonable grounds to determine Israel is committing a genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
Timmins-James Bay MP Charlie Angus sponsored the petition, which will be closed on Oct. 10, after which he’ll read it in the House of Commons. This will force an official government response within 45 days.
“The Canadian people are showing that they do not want the resources of Canada and the labour of our people to assist the Israeli campaign of genocide in Gaza,” Starbuck said in a media release.
“They want our land and labour to go towards the development of peaceful uses of nickel that benefit humanity. This petition is providing a concrete way that the Canadian people can stand with Palestine and make a contribution towards stopping the flow of armaments and munitions to Israel.”
The petition is available by clicking here.