The Canadian government has announced additional humanitarian assistance to Palestinians following the recent Hamas attack against Israel and subsequent retaliation. There were concerns that the aid could be diverted to fund terrorist activities. Hamas has been ruling the Gaza Strip since 2007, while the West Bank is ruled by the political party Fatah, a Hamas rival. Ottawa provides approximately $55 million annually to support vulnerable Palestinians, with $20 million for development aid and $35 million for humanitarian assistance. The funding is distributed to various organizations that address issues such as gender-based violence, support small farmers and herders, and provide basic education, health, and social services for Palestinian refugees.
In response to the recent attack, Ottawa has announced an additional $10 million in humanitarian assistance. Efforts are being made to prevent the aid from being diverted by Hamas. Some federal funding for Palestinians, particularly to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), has been criticized in recent years. The Canadian government has acknowledged that UNRWA produced anti-Israel educational materials, which goes against UN guidelines. Despite corrective actions taken by UNRWA, concerns persist regarding the content of textbooks used in Palestinian schools. Jewish human rights organization B’nai Brith Canada has called for federal funding for UNRWA to cease and for a forensic audit to be conducted.
Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre has called for more oversight and a full review of Canadian funding. UNRWA schools have previously been used by Palestinian armed groups to store weapons, though the organization has condemned this. Hamas, along with other Palestinian armed groups, is considered a terrorist organization by the Canadian government. Funding support to these entities is punishable under the Criminal Code. Hamas is funded by various sources, including Iran, charities, business investments, and donations, some of which are made using cryptocurrency. The recent attack by Hamas was more sophisticated, with a breach of the security fence and the targeting of civilians. Israel has responded with a blockade, airstrikes on Hamas targets, and preparations for a ground invasion.