Canada’s pledge to suspend arms exports to Israel since January 2024 has collapsed under scrutiny, as mounting evidence from import and customs data indicates shipments of Canadian military goods including ammunition and weapons parts have continued unimpeded. Israeli tax records examined by several NGOs point to 175,000 rounds of ammunition exported in April 2025 alone, plus regular deliveries throughout 2024 of bullets, guns and firearm components classified under wartime customs codes.
Despite Ottawa’s assertion that no lethal export permits have been granted since early 2024, analysis reveals previously authorized permits remain active, facilitating ongoing arms deliveries well into 2025 . Canadian NGOs, among them World Beyond War and Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East —released a joint report on July 30, 2025, exposing 47 shipments originating from Canada-based arms makers destined for Israeli defence firms, contradicting government claims of a moratorium.
In response, Palestinian Youth Movement and other campaigners accuse the Trudeau government of misleading policymakers and the public by obscuring the true nature of exported goods. “Despite deceptive government statements, the flow of military cargo from Canada to Israel has been uninterrupted,” said one activist at a press briefing on Parliament Hill . Opposition voices including the NDP foreign affairs critic condemned the duplicity, warning Canada risks complicity in potential war crimes under international law.
Defence industry stakeholders, conversely, highlight that previously issued export licences remain valid and unconditional revocation would have required separate executive action. Global Affairs Canada continues to emphasize that no new permits for lethal weaponry have been approved since January 8, 2024 though critics argue that loopholes in permit policy effectively nullify the intended freeze . With growing legal and moral pressure, Canada faces escalating criticism over its export oversight transparency and alignment between stated policy and actual trade practices.
