Photo Review -- July 1 to 24

Worldwide Actions Continue to Support Resistance in Face of Increasingly Desperate Israeli Onslaught

Demonstration surrounds British parliament in London, England on the first sitting day of the new government, July 18.

Around the world people in their millions continue to take action to stand with the Palestinian people and the Resistance, demanding an end to the Israeli genocide and the increasingly brutal and desperate massacres it is carrying out throughout Gaza. Figures reported by the Gaza Ministry of Health on July 25, day 292 of the ongoing Israeli genocide, are that at least 39,175 Palestinians have been killed, and more than 90,403 injured, with 11,000 people missing and presumed dead under the rubble. Of those killed at least 15,700 are children and 10,300 are women. These figures do not account for the indirect deaths due to the destruction of health care facilities and infrastructure and Israel’s criminal denial of food and water to the Palestinian people.

Actions everywhere, in cities, small towns and in remote locations demand an end to Israel’s impunity. In those countries which are parties to Israel’s genocide people are demanding that their governments immediately end all funding and support for Israel. In Britain, two days after the election of the Labour Party government, a massive national demonstration demanded it stop arming and funding Israel. Demonstrators also organized a mass action outside the Parliament on the opening of the new Parliamentary session.

CANADA

National Capital Region

For the 39th week, on July 7 people of conscience in Ottawa and the Outaouais region marched to demand an end to the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people and the occupation of Palestine.

A spokesperson for the Palestinian Youth Movement told those gathered at the Human Rights Monument: "For these past 39 weeks, the Zionist entity has continued its horrific campaign of violence across Palestine, resulting in the displacement of hundreds of thousands, and the relentless slaughter of over 45,000 Palestinians....

"While we have seen our people live through unimaginable horror, we have also seen them continuously resist, from the doctors who are refusing to leave their patients, even when their hospitals are besieged, to the parents digging through the rubble with their bare hands for their children, to our courageous Resistance fighters who are continuing to show the world the meaning of bravery."

He pointed out that through these demonstrations and a host of actions including the student encampment at the University of Ottawa, in place for two months, one thing that has been accomplished is that Palestine has been made unavoidable. He called on everyone to continue to speak out for Palestine.

A march followed through downtown Ottawa, with brief stops at each intersection, to the student encampment. There a student spokesperson talked of the students' demands that the university divest from genocide and occupation and of their determination to continue to fight for justice, whether through the encampment or through pressure by other means.

July 13

July 20

Quebec

Quebec City

On July 7, Québec Palestine organized a demonstration in the St-Roch district of Lower Town in Quebec City with the theme "Our Existence Is Resistance." The organizers explained that there are many ways to resist, and called on everyone to find their own way.

A representative of the Wendat First Nation led the demonstration, pointing out at the start of the march that it was taking place on the unceded land of the Wendat nation. She emphasized their nation's link with the Palestinians, who have also never ceded their land.

The demonstrators protested acts of racial profiling, the dispatch of 40 police officers to dislodge 10 campers from the Student Camp for Palestine on the grounds of Laval University, and other similar events on Montreal campuses.

The march stopped in front of the constituency office of Jean-Yves Duclos, Canada's Minister of Public Services and Procurement, complicit in the genocide by supplying material to Israel via his ministry. Demonstrators also denounced the complicity of Prime Minister Trudeau, Quebec Premier Legault and their governments.

July 7

Montreal

On July 13, over 400 people gathered at Parc François-Perrault in Montreal, in the heart of the neighborhood known as Petit Maghreb, to demand an end to the genocide in Palestine and to denounce the complicity of the Trudeau and Legault governments in the crimes committed by the Zionists. Palestinian youth led the action with conviction, slogans and songs in support of the Palestinian resistance and the heroic Palestinian people. On hearing that the same morning, genocidal Israeli forces had killed 90 people by attacking a camp for displaced persons in southern Gaza, the crowd shouted "Shame!" at the Zionist regime and their accomplices. The organizers were quick to point out that the Palestinian resistance and supporting actions around the world are what will put an end to the genocide. The liberation of Palestine is a factor for the liberation of all humanity, they added, to the applause of the crowd.

The entire march took place in the neighbourhood, which is home to a large community of people of Arab origin. Many people greeted the demonstrations with enthusiasm and emotion, coming out of shops, hairdressers and cafés and cheering from balconies as the march passed.

July 13

July 20

Ontario

Toronto

Hundreds of students, faculty and workers attended a rally July 3 called by the University of Toronto students at the People's Circle for Palestine encampment at King's College Circle. The 3:30 pm rally was followed by a march on campus and a press conference at 5:00 pm.

The previous day, the Ontario Superior Court had granted the university an injunction. The university informed the students that they had until 6:00 pm to take down their tents and leave the site or the police would forcibly remove them. The students decided to leave on their own terms to protect their community and prevent police violence and brutality against them. By 5:00 pm the site was clear and representatives of the students addressed the media and their supporters.

The students are demanding that the university disclose its financial holdings, divest from companies supplying Israel with weapons that are being used to carry out genocide against Palestinians, and cut ties with Israeli academic institutions. The university had refused to negotiate with them.

One student representative pointed out that the judge, while granting the injunction, found no evidence for the claims of the university and pro-Zionist media and organizations that the encampment protesters had engaged in violence or anti-Semitism.

A spokesperson called the encampment a great success because it brought students, faculty and community members together to demand that U of T end its complicity in Israel's genocide, growing stronger every day and exposing the university as standing on the wrong side of history.

Student spokespersons pledged the 18-year fight to get the university to disclose and divest its financial and other ties to Israel will continue.

Following the press conference, participants marched through the Toronto streets, chanting From the River to the Sea, Palestine Is Almost Free!, U of T, You Will See, Palestine Will be Free!, The More They Try to Silence Us, the Louder We Will Be!, Disclose, Divest, We Will Not Stop, We Will Not Rest! and other slogans. The march ended at the Israeli Consulate with more speeches and pledges to step up the work for a Free Palestine.

Rally closing the University of Toronto encampment, July 3

July 6

Niagara Falls

On July 21, some 2,000 Palestine supporters demonstrated in Niagara Falls in a cross-border Canada-U.S. joint rally, coming from as far away as Montreal. This was the biggest Palestine rally in Niagara since the events of October 2023 and the biggest cross-border peace rally in 30 years. The Canadian side marched from Stanley Ave. and Highway 420 to the border and on the U.S. side people gathered at Prospect Point Observation Point. Supporters came by chartered buses and car caravans.

Canadian side of border, July 21

U.S. side of Niagara Falls, July 21

Windsor

July 8

On July 10 students who camped out for two months on the campus of the University of Windsor to take a stand against Israel's brutal genocide against the Palestinian people and join the worldwide student Intifada announced that an agreement which met their demands had been signed with the University administration and as a result, they were ending their encampment.