The value of Canada's military goods and technology exports to Israel reached its peak in 2023, exceeding $30 million; representing an almost 40% increase in just one year.

A report from the Canadian Foreign Ministry indicates that over a span of ten years, the value of Canadian arms exports to Israel has increased nearly sevenfold, rising from $4.5 million in 2014 to $30.6 million in 2023.

The report clarifies that for the second consecutive year, excluding the United States, Israel is the country that received the largest number of export licenses for military goods and technology from Canada... In total, it obtained 348 export licenses in 2023, followed by the United Kingdom (305) and Germany (188)... Israel topped this list in 2022 with 315 licenses.

However, the Canadian Foreign Ministry clarified in its report that following the Israeli war on Gaza, the licenses granted pertained to the export of non-lethal equipment, and this reference appeared seven times in the 65-page report.

According to the Canadian Foreign Ministry's report, throughout the past year, applications for licenses to export military goods and technology to Israel were considered on a case-by-case basis, particularly regarding the criteria of the Arms Trade Treaty, as stipulated in Canada's Export and Import Permits Act.

Among the goods and technologies transferred to Israel were electronic equipment specifically designed for military use ($13.1 million) and components for bombs, torpedoes, missiles, and shells ($10.5 million)... The value of the latter category was $3.2 million in 2022... Other materials exported to Israel include aircraft and aviation equipment ($4.4 million), military maritime equipment (surface or submarines) and its accessories ($621,400), and smoothbore firearms of caliber less than 20 mm and other firearms ($10,708).

For his part, Kelsey Gallagher, a researcher at the Blushers Project, a Canadian NGO focusing on disarmament issues, confirmed that 2023 is a record year for Canadian arms exports to Israel, noting that there is no definition for the term "non-lethal weapons" in Canada's arms control regime.

It is noteworthy that last March, the House of Commons voted in favor of a non-binding motion calling for Canada to halt arms exports to Israel.