October 7, 2024
One Year Anniversary of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood
International Days of Action Show Broad Mass Support for Resistance to U.S./Israeli Genocide
Worldwide, militant mass actions were held on October 5 and 6 to mark the one-year anniversary of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood carried out by the Palestinian Resistance.
In their thousands, tens of thousands and hundreds of thousands, people filled the streets and squares in towns and cities around the world. They affirmed that one year after the audacious act of resistance on October 7, 2023 and after one year of the genocidal U.S./Zionist war on Gaza, that is now expanding to Lebanon, the peoples will not be intimidated or stopped from speaking out for Palestine and its right to be, and the Palestinian people's right to resist and liberate themselves from occupation.
Actions are continuing throughout the week to mark the anniversary.
Ottawa Demonstration Demands Canadian Government
Accountability for Complicity in Genocide
Parliament Hill in Ottawa
More than 6,000 people assembled on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Saturday, October 5. A spokesperson for the Association of Palestinian Arab Canadians (APAC) condemned the silence and double standards of the Canadian government after a year of heinous and brutal crimes committed by Israel against the Palestinian people in Gaza, in the West Bank and, now, in Lebanon.
"We are tired of our government's response to this genocide, but we are not tired of standing up for Palestine. We will continue to repeat our demands that Canada impose a two-ways arms embargo, for an immediate and lasting ceasefire and for the 17-year long blockade of Gaza to finally come to an end," he said.
"Even as 630,000 students in Gaza have not gone back to school this year, even as all 12 universities and over 500 of their schools have been destroyed in Gaza, our people continue to educate themselves. Even though all 24 hospitals have been damaged or destroyed, our people continue to treat the injured and sick," an organizer for Students for Justice in Palestine at Carleton University said. "Here as well, though targeted by university administrations and in the face of continued repression, we continue to organize and to take action, because as long as our people in Palestine are fighting, so are we," the organizer said.
A spokesperson for the Coalition of Racialized Workers in the Ontario Public Service Employees Union said, among other things, that Palestine is a cause for all oppressed peoples in the world and has become a symbol of freedom. He called on everyone to step up the campaign to boycott, sanction and divest from Israel.
A university professor spoke of the need for accountability. Every soldier, funder and dealer must be held accountable for their genocidal crimes, the professor said.
A spokesperson for the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM) declared:
"The people will never abandon the promise of freedom. For every person martyred in the struggle for liberation, hundreds stand ready to carry the torch forward. Our struggle for liberation cannot be imprisoned, it cannot be besieged, it cannot be occupied and it will not be destroyed.
"Our Resistance remains strong and steadfast in the face of a genocide. We are here today to say that we are undeterred and we know that liberation and return are imminent and inevitable.
"Justin Trudeau, you can't hide. We charge you with genocide!"
Montreal Stands Firm in Support of Palestine
More than 3,000 people marched in Montreal on October 5 and more on October 6, many holding Palestinian and Lebanese flags to show the close unity between the peoples of these two nations in the face of the on-going criminal onslaught of the U.S./Zionist entity. Others carried placards and banners denouncing the Israeli genocide against the Palestinian people with full impunity and complicity of Anglo-American and Western powers, including Canada.
For close to two hours, cars honked and pedestrians showed their support as the march made its way to the Israeli consulate, Neighbourhood organizations in Montreal were present with their banners along with organizations representing college teachers and students as well as university professors against the genocide, lawyers in support of Palestine and post-secondary students, amongst them students from McGill and Concordia universities and the University of Quebec and University of Montreal.
Representatives from the Metropolitan Montreal district of the two major Quebec labour unions (CSN and FTQ) spoke as did a representative of the Indigenous Peoples.
A representative of Palestinian Youth Movement eloquently gave expression to the views of Canadian and Quebec people on this occasion. She strongly condemned the actions of Israel and the United States, referring to Israel as a "genocidal fascist project" that has been given "complete impunity" to wage war in the region. She gave specific examples of Israeli aggression including assassinating political leaders, bombing the civilian population in Lebanon, in Palestinian refugee camps, and jailing thousands of Palestinian youth.
"A year ago, the heroes of Gaza put Palestine on the agenda of every world leader. They reminded the United Nations and every NGO that they will not be the ones that will save us from Zionism. It is our people and our people's resistance alone that will pave the road to liberation.
"And yes, one year ago Gaza split the world in two. [...] There are those whose loyalty is to profit, war, and genocide. And there are those whose loyalty is to dignity, liberation, and honour. Gaza, the land of the undefeated, the graveyard of the occupier has exposed our enemy for what it truly is : a genocidal fascist project [...] if it is not stopped. In the past 365 days, the so-called leaders of the world have given complete impunity [to Israel], to wreak a war on the entire region. [...]
"We've seen war criminal Benjamin Netanyahu use the word 'Gaza' as a threat, declaring that Lebanon will be the next Gaza. But brothers and sisters, he is right. Lebanon, just like Gaza, will become the place where Zionism goes to die.
"Lebanon, just like Gaza, will be the place where Zionism is [brought to its knees]. We can never let the images of disruptions and devastation replace the images of victory that other peoples have offered us.
"We will never forget that a people under a 17-year long siege was able to break the illusion of the unbreakable and undefeatable occupation. We will never forget that the Resistance was able to liberate 240 prisoners that were held in occupation jails."
She praised the resistance movements in various regions for their victories against occupation and their unwavering spirit in the face of overwhelming forces.
"We will never forget that the Resistance in Lebanon defeated Israel in the year 2000, forced them out of their land and again in 2006. We will not forget that the occupation has achieved none of its military aims and in fact, it has killed more hostages than it has rescued.
[...]
"Brothers and sisters, today our movement is at a critical moment. This is a historic era where we are truly seeing that there is no limit to Zionist and U.S. aggression. But this is also the era of unity."
She called for unity among the resistance movements across the region, stating at "no other time has our people's resistance across the region been this united." She declared that the land "does not know defeat" and that Zionism will ultimately be defeated, just as other occupiers and colonizers have been defeated throughout history.
The speech was a rallying call for continued resistance against oppression.
"They call our people terrorists and animals, but that is what they called the half million Vietnamese people who died liberating their homeland from the U.S. empire. [...]. And that is also what they called the Algerians who paid the price of more than a million martyrs to send the French back to where they came from."
She ended by saying, "Palestinians may be facing an empire with the strongest weapons and the most advanced technology", but it's also "the land that doesn't know defeat, and Gaza will eventually become the graveyard of the occupiers."
Quebec City
Defiant Toronto Action
An estimated 30,000 people marched in Toronto on October 5. They gathered from all over Southern Ontario to demand an end to the U.S./Israeli genocide in Gaza and Israel's war on Lebanon and express their support for the Palestinians Resistance.
Organizers pointed out that in a year of war crimes and crimes against humanity which has killed at least 42,000 people in Gaza alone with many more unaccounted for, the Zionist state and its U.S. masters have not achieved a single one of their stated objectives and are a pariah in the world.
The march expressed unreserved support for the Resistance in Palestine, Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq, Iran, Syria which is united and dealing heavy blows to the Zionist state. They represented the unity of the world's people behind the Palestinian cause for an end to the occupation and a free Palestine.
Signs and banners identified participants from all national communities in Ontario, including peoples from Latin American and Caribbean origin, from Vietnam, China, the Philippines, Bengal and Punjab in India and other countries.
Alongside the Palestinian flags were flags of more than 18 countries, union flags, Indigenous warrior flags, banners of the constituency organizations for Palestine which have been organizing on the ground for the past year, LGBTQ+ activists and proud contingents from the Jewish community and Indigenous Peoples.
The action drew participants from across southern Ontario, who
organized buses and car pools to reach Toronto. It was the largest ever
march for Palestine in Toronto, stretching at one point for over two
kilometres. Chanting was non-stop and at every major intersection
drumming and chanting took place.
Edmonton
Vancouver
United States
In the U.S. militant actions took place from coast to coast including major rallies in Washington DC, New York and Chicago demanding an end to U.S. military, financial and political support for Israel.
New York City
Chicago, IL
Los Angeles, CA
Europe
London, England
Across Europe, in many cases in defiance of government bans on demonstrations, people took to the streets in at least 100 cities to express their solidarity with Palestine and condemnation of European governments which support Israel's wars and criminalize supporters of Palestine. In Stockholm, Sweden, demonstrations marched to the Swedish Foreign Ministry condemning Israel's actions as genocide and calling for systemic change to achieve peace in the Middle East. In the Netherlands thousands rallied in Amsterdam's Dam Square denouncing Western governments' support for Israel. Thousands gathered in Paris' Place de la Republique and there were demonstrations in many cities across France including Lyon, Toulouse, Bordeaux and Strasbourg. In Berlin, Hamburg and Dusseldorf and other cities in Germany large demonstrations were held. Demonstrations also took place in Copenhagen, Denmark; Basel, Switzerland; and Belgrade, Serbia.
In Greece, thousands marched on the Israeli embassy in Athens and there were actions in Patras, Heraklion, Rethymno, Chania, Florina, Vol, and other cities against the genocide of the Palestinians and the crimes of Israel. Soldiers of the Greek Army took part in demonstrations opposing imperialist wars, calling for Greece's complete disengagement from the violent actions of Israel, the U.S. and the EU in West Asia.
Spain saw three days of nationwide protests in over 50 cities.
In Rome, Italy, several thousand demonstrated in spite of a ban by local authorities.
London, England
In London, England, over 300,000 people marched to Downing Street, the offices of the Prime Minister, to denounce Britain's complicity in the U.S./Israeli war crimes. Actions were held in other cities including Manchester. In Dublin, Ireland, and Edinburgh, Scotland, thousands marched.
Edinburgh, Scotland
Dublin, Ireland
Liege, Belgium
Paris, France
Spain
Madrid
Valencia
Barcelona
Murcia
Ankara, Turkey
Karachi, Pakistan
Jakarta,
Indonesia
In Indonesia's capital, Jakarta, thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters marched to the heavily guarded U.S. Embassy. Authorities blocked roads leading to the embassy with razor wire and concrete barriers as more than 1,000 police were deployed around the compound.
Philippines
In the Philippines demonstrators protested the U.S./Israeli genocide in Gaza near the U.S. Embassy in Manila on October 5 and students of the University of the Philippines Baguio protested in Malcolm Square on October 6.
Manila
Baguio City
Seoul, Korea
Tokyo, Japan
Rabat, Morocco
In Rabat, Morocco thousands marched under the slogan "Al-Aqsa Flood until the Liberation of Palestine and the Collapse of Normalization."
Capetown, South Africa
Some 60,000 marched in Cape Town, South Africa and actions were organized in Johannesburg and Durban.
Venezuela
In Caracas, Venezuela, demonstrators protested outside the UN headquarters for Venezuela and delivered a petition to the UN calling for an end to the genocide of the Palestinians.
Caracas, Venezuela
Australia
In Australia, thousands defied attempts by authorities to undermine and block the resistance movement and organized militant actions in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
Sydney
Melbourne
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