Letter to Prime Minister Carney regarding Joint statement from the leaders of Canada, the United Kingdom and France on the situation in Gaza and the West Bank
On May 26th, 2025, The NFU sent the following letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Anita Anand.
Dear Prime Minister Carney,
Re: NFU Response to Joint Statement on the situation in Gaza and the West Bank
The National Farmers Union would like to express our strong support for Canada’s demand for the cessation of all Israeli military operations against Palestinians in Gaza and for Israel to uphold the principles of the Geneva Convention and immediately allow the full delivery of humanitarian aid in the recent Joint statement from the leaders of Canada, the United Kingdom and France on the situation in Gaza and the West Bank. In November 2023, the NFU unanimously passed the following resolution at our annual National Convention, which was held in Ottawa. That same day a large delegation of our members participated in the massive demonstration on Parliament Hill calling for a ceasefire.
De-Escalation of Conflict in Israel-Palestine
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that, in accordance with The Geneva Conventions, The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, among other international law, the NFU affirms the rights of Palestinian people to sovereignty, including food sovereignty in their homelands.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NFU join with the hundreds of other humanitarian, civil society, labour, and faith groups in calling on the Government of Canada to:
- Call for an immediate ceasefire in Israel-Palestine.
- Call for an end to the blockade of Gaza and for the restoration of humanitarian aid and access to the basic necessities of life.
- Use all diplomatic means at its disposal to support the negotiation of a just and lasting peace in the region.
- Call for Israel to meet its commitments under the Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law.
Furthermore, we reiterate our March 18 2024 statement Food cannot be a weapon of war in Gaza, as the hunger emergency and developing famine situation is worsening daily.
On behalf of the thousands of farmers and farm workers who are members of the National Farmers Union, we insist Canada hold true to its promise to take concrete action, including sanctions, if the Israeli Government does not stop its military operations and immediately allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. We hope this joint statement generates real action to end the famine and the war in Gaza. To reiterate, the NFU calls on the federal government to “use all diplomatic means at its disposal to support the negotiation of a just and lasting peace in the region” and to “end the blockade of Gaza and for the restoration of humanitarian aid and access to the basic necessities of life.”
Sincerely,
Jenn Pfenning, NFU President
Phil Mount, NFU 1st Vice President (Policy)
CC Hon. Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs
