January 2, 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Rally at Cambridge weapons manufacturer calls for arms embargo on Israel now 

CAMBRIDGE –  Local Palestinian solidarity organizations will gather at Cambridge’s Centra Industries on Saturday, Jan. 3 to protest against the local weapon manufacturer’s complicity in Israel’s bombing of Gaza. 

Centra Industries is a local weapons manufacturer supplying parts for the F35 fighter jets used to bomb Gaza. Since October 2023, Centra Industries has sent more than 174 shipments of weapons components to Lockheed Martin in Texas, exploiting an export loophole.

This loophole is intentional; it is purposefully designed to avoid Canada’s commitments to the Arms Trade Treaty and turn war crimes into profit.

Members of Palestinian Youth Movement’s local chapter, Neighbours for Palestine Waterloo Region, and others will rally outside Centra Industries on Saturday to demand an arms embargo now and call on local MPs to support the No More Loopholes Bill, aimed at closing loopholes that allow the export of Canadian-made weapons parts to Israel. 

“Canada is utilizing its loopholes with The United States as a way to continue to profit off of human rights violations. Our community completely rejects the notion that the Canadian government is powerless to end the sales of these weapons and that we should prioritize war profiteering over human lives. We will continue to show up until we see a complete two way arms embargo on Israel,” said Fou Fou N. of Palestinian Youth Movement. 

“The New Year is a time for renewal, and our resolution is simple: we will keep speaking up until Canada ends its complicity in genocide. Our MPs have the power to act—and we will hold them accountable until they do,” said Aamina P. of Neighbours for Palestine Waterloo Region. 

United Nations human rights experts warn that sending Israel weapons, ammunition or components that it would use in Gaza likely violates international humanitarian law. Canada’s own laws, based on the Arms Trade Treaty, require that it stop permitting the export of military technology when there’s a substantial risk those exports could be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian or human rights law, or commit serious acts of violence against women and children.

That is not what Canada is currently doing.

Canadian companies export weapons, components, and military technology to Israel, including via the United States. These military exports, whether directly or by way of intermediaries, put Canada at risk of complicity in Israel’s grave human rights violations in Gaza and the West Bank.

Centra Industries is one of nine weapons manufacturing companies in Waterloo region complicit in Israel’s bombardment of Gaza. 

RALLY DETAILS: 

Saturday, Jan. 3

1 p.m. 

24 Cherry Blossom Rd., Cambridge  

MEDIA CONTACTS

• Shatha Mahmoud, pymkwc@gmail.com
• Aamina P, waterlooforpalestine@gmail.com
• Follow @kwpalestine