Two sources told Radio Canada that the federal government is deliberately slowing down Israel's request for permission to import Canadian-made armored patrol vehicles.

Shortly after the deadly attack launched by Hamas on Israeli citizens on October 7, 2023 – which left about 1200 dead and around 250 others held hostage – the Israeli government sent a request to the office of Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly for permission to import about thirty armored patrol vehicles from the manufacturer in Ontario, Roshel.

Ottawa must grant the necessary export licenses before completing the deal – but Israel's request has since been forgotten, as the federal government strives to maintain a delicate internal balance regarding its stance on the conflict between Israel and Hamas, according to the sources.

As reported by the Toronto Star, the federal government has also withheld its approval to export non-lethal military goods and technology to Israel – such as night vision goggles – due to concerns about the potential use of this equipment in human rights violations.

A source told CBC News that government officials reviewing such applications raised concerns about the possibility of misuse of the equipment. The source said reviewers find it difficult to draw definitive conclusions due to the constantly changing situation in Gaza.

The source said that as a result, no permits have been approved to export non-lethal military goods and technology to Israel during the past two months.

The federal government has not yet provided a detailed list of the equipment supplied to Israel that was sent before the export permits were put on hold.

The suspension of the permit issued by the federal government carries legal and political implications.

Since the October 7 attack, the Israeli war on Hamas has led to the destruction of the Gaza Strip, resulting in the deaths of more than 30,000 people, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health. The United Nations says that a quarter of Gaza's 2.3 million people are facing famine.

If the federal government allows military equipment transactions, it risks angering pro-Palestinian groups and being accused of complicity in Israeli army operations in Gaza.

For weeks, the New Democratic Party has been calling for a ban on exporting military equipment to Israel. In a statement issued last month, the party said the ban must be imposed due to "the brutal attack launched by Netanyahu's government for four months against the people of Gaza."

New Democratic Party MP Heather McPherson said on February 12: "The minister is obliged under the Arms Trade Treaty not to approve export permits for military goods and technology where there is a substantial risk of human rights violations."

A coalition of Canadian lawyers and citizens of Palestinian origin has also filed a lawsuit in the Federal Court in an attempt to force the federal government to suspend all its military exports to Israel.

 The New Democratic Party wants to reject all arms export permits to Israel

The Center for Israel and Jewish Affairs described the suspension of non-lethal military exports as a "moral failure on the part of the Liberal government."

The group wrote on social media: "Stopping even non-lethal exports tells Israel – the democratic ally – that they are alone in the fight for their survival against a terrorist regime."

When asked whether approving an export visa for armored vehicles violates Canada’s legal obligations, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declined to comment.

Trudeau said in Windsor, Ontario today, Thursday: "Canada has one of the strongest export systems in the world and I will not comment on a specific case, but we continue to ensure that all decisions are made the right way." 

Radio Canada contacted Global Affairs Canada and Roshel for comment but had not received a response yet.

McPherson called on the Liberal government to suspend any active arms export permits to Israel and reject any other requests received.

McPherson said in a press statement today, "With over 30,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza, the minister is obliged to refuse export permits for military equipment and technology where there is a substantial risk of human rights violations, as we witness with Netanyahu's horrific bombing and ground offensive."

A spokesperson for the Israeli embassy said it would not comment on issues related to Canadian internal procedures.