Petition to Canadian Parliament

We, the undersigned, are Canadian citizens and grandmothers, who identify ourselves as Grandmothers for Gilad Shalit. We wish to draw the attention of the House of Commons in Parliament assembled to the following:

That the Canadian people have a profound commitment to International Law and are guided by the basic human rights based on general legal principles, as well as specific agreements to which Canada is a party, including the Geneva Convention.

That Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was abducted in Israel and taken into Gaza on June 26, 2006, during a cease-fire arrangement. He was 19 years old. For more than 4 years Gilad Schalit , has been held in complete isolation and has been denied access to any rights afforded to him under International Law. No visitations by individuals, doctors, or the International Red Cross have been permitted by his Palestinian captors.
That Canada announced a contribution of $300 million over five years in support of the peace process and of Palestinian reform and development, is contributing $15 million to the World Bank’s Palestinian Reform and Development Plan Trust Fund, and has already provided more than $400 million for development initiatives in the West Bank and Gaza.
Therefore, your petitioners call upon the Government of Canada:

To insist that the Red Cross, the UN and other humanitarian agencies uphold the applicable standards of humanitarian law which would include a proof of life, a visit to the captured soldier, and communication between him and his family, as a bare minimum;
To condition any Canadian aid transferred to Gaza from the Canadian Government on adherence to these basic principles;
To insist that the Palestinian Authority, including all ministers and leadership in the Palestinian Authority, be fully committed to repatriate Gilad Shalit;
To advance in any way, along with Canada’s allies, the process to the release of Gilad Shalit who has been held in captivity for more than four years, in conditions contrary to any standards of International Law held so precious by this country and its citizens.
To use Canada’s good offices in bi-lateral and multi-lateral discussions to put an end to this violation of International Humanitarian Law, and secure Gilad Shalit’s release and return to Israel.