Hamilton MP calls on Canada to demand ceasefire in Israel-Hamas war

After returning from a humanitarian trip to the Middle East, Hamilton Member of Parliament Matthew Green maintains that Canada has a crucial role to play regarding those displaced in the ongoing war in the region.

Green was one of five federal MP’s to spend a week travelling through the West Bank to Jerusalem.

He and his fellow MP’s are looking to create a bill that aims to educate Canadians, including the Trudeau government, about the realities facing the region in an effort to demand a ceasefire.

“It’s one thing to see something online, on social media or on the news, but to experience it is something completely separate and I would say to you that the experience I had, it’s a visceral feeling. It’s a feeling that at any moment, things can go wrong.”

The MP for Hamilton Centre feels even Canadian citizenship doesn’t shield him while travelling through the West Bank with other Canadian MPs.

Over six days, Green was joined by NDP representatives Heather MacPherson and Lyndsay Mathesson along with Liberals Shafqat Ali and Salma Zahid.

WATCH MORE: Hamilton man applies to bring his family from Gaza to Canada

They passed through security checkpoints and met with authorities in Palestinian refugee camps under Israeli control.

In places such as Jenin and Ramallah, Green says he witnessed destruction, unlivable conditions and avoided raids.

“An apartment that had been struck by, I think an F-18, and there was a precision to that bombing where it only impacted that unit there was no damage to either apartment. And while I was standing in this, what was formerly someone’s home, I couldn’t help but think about what was happening in Gaza.”

Now back home, Green says the MPs intend to present a bill that demands the Liberal government respond to the crisis.

It’s been more than 100 days of war between Israel and Hamas. Tens of thousands are reportedly dead and dozens held hostage, with minimal aid in warzones.

“You know any conversations about Hamas or Israel, that’s not for me. What I do know is that Canada has a role to play in upholding international law. Both parties, all parties need to be subjected to international law and need to be held accountable.”

WATCH MORE: Local surgeon details tragic medical mission in Gaza

Political analyst with Wilfred Laurier, Alistair Edgar, believes the Trudeau administration is concerned about voters as the country sees more civil unrest over its position and global influence.

“If this can pressure the Trudeau government to have a clear position, I think that would actually be pretty good. Whatever position they take is going to alienate some people. That’s inevitable but that’s also political leadership,” said Edgar.

“Canada has lost a lot of its credibility, not just on this. When the Trudeau government was elected and said to the U.N. we’re back then everyone at the U.N. waited to see what Canada was going to do when it’s back and frankly it’s been very disappointing there too.”

Green says MPs will begin sharing their experiences and seek input nationwide about what they want to see in the Trudeau government’s response to the state of the Palestinian territories on Jan. 29, the day of remembrance for the 2017 Quebec mosque attack.

“You know the way in which this is being handled by our government, I think you know, you can anticipate that people will continue to anticipate that people will continue to express themselves in that way until such time as they have a government who, at the bare minimum, can adhere to international law and call for a ceasefire.”

He anticipates that it will be four to six weeks before a bill is presented.