Activists push Canada to deny entry to Israeli arms manufacturers

Human rights advocates in Canada are calling on authorities to block representatives of two major Israeli weapons manufacturers from attending a defence exhibition in Ottawa next week.

The groups said they filed a legal complaint with the Canada Border Services Agency seeking to deny entry to representatives from Elbit Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries ahead of the CANSEC arms fair on May 27 and 28.

The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians Canada said the companies have supplied military technology and weapons allegedly used by Israeli forces in Gaza.

“Elbit Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries are among the principal defence contractors supplying military technologies, drones, weapons systems, and surveillance equipment used by Israeli forces during attacks in Gaza,” the organisation said in a statement.

“Permitting representatives of these companies to attend Canada’s largest arms and defence exhibition risks undermining Canada’s obligations under domestic and international law,” ICJP Canada added.

Last year, Amnesty International identified the two firms among companies allegedly “contributing to Israel’s unlawful occupation, genocide or other crimes under international law”.

The CANSEC event, held annually in Ottawa, is one of the largest defence and security trade shows in North America.

Canadian authorities have not yet publicly responded to the complaint.