Canada pledges help for Palestinian sex-crime victims, angering Israeli envoy

Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly responds to questions from reporters in the Foyer of the House of Commons on Parliament Hill after Question Period, in Ottawa on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

An announcement this week that Canada would provide funding for Palestinian women who have survived sexual violence drew an immediate rebuke from a senior Israeli official.

Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly made the $1-million pledge on social media Tuesday.

"We believe Palestinian women," she posted on X.

"Allegations on sexual and gender-based violence against them must be investigated and Palestinian women must be supported."

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Within minutes, Israel's envoy for combating antisemitism criticized the post.

Michal Cotler-Wunsh wrote that the funding is "supporting blood-libel inversion of fact" that will fuel rising anti-Jewish sentiment.

"It is also a betrayal and undermining of Canada's commitment to uphold and protect foundational principles of life and liberty," she said on X.

Joly's office would not say whether Canada believes Israeli forces are perpetrating sexual violence on women in Gaza as their war against Hamas continues, nor if the funding pertains to domestic abuse in the Palestinian territories.

The minister's staff would only say that the money will go toward "organizations supporting Palestinian women from the West Bank and Gaza who are survivors of sexual violence, no matter the circumstance."

Earlier this week, Joly announced the same amount of money to support Israeli women who have been victims of sexual violence by Hamas, months after a cross-partisan group of Canadian former politicians asked Canada to pledge $1 million.

It is unclear which groups will receive the funding announced for women in each region.

Last month, a group of United Nations experts said they were distressed by unconfirmed reports that Palestinian women and girls in Israeli detention have faced sexual assault.

The accusations included two reports of rape, threats of sexual assault and strip searches by male Israeli soldiers. The experts said they were seeking an impartial investigation into the allegations.

The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs said it's crucial that women be believed, particularly those impacted by sexual violence during conflict. But the Canadian group's president, Shimon Koffler Fogel, warned against "any implication of equivalence" with the planned attack by Hamas that included sexual assault of Israeli women.

"Allegations of gender-based violence should always benefit from careful assessment, and Israel has objective processes and safeguards for any allegations of misconduct — claims have yet to be reported through these channels," Koffler Fogel wrote.

"We are increasingly concerned that the claims seek to weaponize gender-based violence," he said, specifically to delegitimize Israel.

"Investigations are necessary, but Canada should withhold comment, judgment, and funding until there is an objectively established basis for the allegations."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 13, 2024.