A prominent Jewish organization, along with Canadian families who lost loved ones in the Oct. 7 attacks, are suing the federal government over its decision to restore funding to the controversial United Nations Relief and Works Agency.
Canada initially said it was suspending funding for UNRWA in January following allegations that some of the UN agency’s staff had participated in the Oct. 7 attacks. The funding was reinstated in March.
The restoring of the funding came amid a wave of anti-Israel demonstrations across Canada, as well as political pressure from the Muslim community.
The application filed by CIJA before the Federal Court argues that Canada is funding terror by funding UNRWA, which is a violation of its own policies that require foreign aid to align Canadian values.
“By resuming Canadian funding to UNRWA, the government is in violation of its own anti-terrorism legislation,” said CIJA.
The allegations have not been tested in court.
In a video posted to X (formerly Twitter), Centre for Israel Affairs (CIJA) vice-president Richard Marceau said “To resume funding for UNRWA is unreasonable, it is wrong.”
Relatives of victims involved in the lawsuit include Dikla Mizrachi, the mother of Ben Mizrachi; Iris Liniado, the daughter of Judih Weinstein Haggai; Jacqui Vital, the mother of Adi Vital-Kaploun; and Raquel Ohnona, mother of Alexandre Look.
Mizrachi, Haggai, Vital-Kaploun and Look were all murdered by Hamas terrorists.
“Our families are appalled and sickened by the decision of the Canadian government to reinstate funding to UNRWA given its ties and support of the terrorism that took our loved ones’ lives,” said the family members in a joint statement.
The pro-Israel organization has retained prominent Ottawa lawyer Lawrence Greenspon and Jillian Siskind as legal counsel. Both are members of CIJA’s legal task force.
“These families have suffered, and are suffering, tremendously from the loss of loved ones killed by Hamas’ terrorism, which has been fueled by funds that were forwarded to UNRWA,” said Greenspoon in a statement.
“UNRWA’s ties to Hamas have long been known and ignored, allowing them to operate with impunity. However, in a post-October-7 world, to deny reality or to continue to remain silent in the face of these facts is complicity.”
Progressives have been defending UNRWA, claiming its work is essential with a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Millions of Gazans have been displaced due to the war, and are also being subjected to shortages of food, water, medicine and fuel.
However, CIJA believes that UNRWA is not up to the task of providing humanitarian aid, amidst its alleged ties to Hamas.
“Though there is no dispute that humanitarian aid is needed and must urgently reach the civilian population in Gaza,” said CIJA. “The application lays out the arguments of why UNRWA cannot be the agency to fulfill this responsibility and should be disqualified from funding.”
A dossier from the Israeli Defence Forces alleges that six UNRWA workers crossed illegally into Israel on Oct. 7, and that four employees took part in the kidnapping of hostages.
The employees in question have since been terminated, although many have warned that UNRWA’s ties to Hamas are deeper than a handful of employees.
