No. 1

January 2, 2024

Photo Review -- December 22 to January 1

World Ushers in 2024 Standing as One
with Palestine

Isbanbul, Türkiye, January 1, 2024.

World Ushers in 2024 with Stepped Up Demands
for Ceasefire in Gaza

CANADA

Ottawa

Thousands of people gathered at the Human Rights Monument at 3:00 pm on December 23, then marched through the streets of Ottawa to demand a ceasefire now, lift the siege on Gaza, and end Canadian complicity with Israel.

Prior to the march, a spokesperson for the Palestinian Youth Movement thanked everyone for continuing to show up for the 11th consecutive weekend for Palestine during the worst genocide against the Palestinian people since the 1948 Nakba.

She said: "This year, the Holiday Season has arrived with hardships of displacement, homelessness, starvation and mourning for our people. Since October 7, we have seen the Zionist State of Israel indiscriminately targeting Palestinians in Gaza, killing over 20,000 people.... Palestinian Christians in Gaza are on the verge of extinction. Palestinian Christians are a minority population that is perfectly ignored in the West. Why? Because the suffering of Palestinian Christians under the hand of the Zionist occupier goes against their false narrative that this is a so-called religious war. But we know that this is a situation of occupier and occupied, of colonizer and colonized. We know that the Palestinian cause is a struggle for freedom, for liberation from Zionist settler colonialism and from world imperialism.

"We know that Palestinians and Arabs of all religious backgrounds are united, not only in their resistance against Zionist colonization but also in their mourning.... In response to their calls, cities across Canada, the U.S. and Europe took to the streets today, calling for no Christmas as usual while a genocide is going on."

Thanking the brothers and sisters of Yemen, she said: "Shame on the Canadian government who, rather than taking action to stop this genocide, has joined in military actions against Yemen, the only country taking action to economically pressure Israel. Yemen's only demand has been to lift the siege and allow medical aid and food to Gaza while Israel has openly confessed to wanting to commit genocide and decimate the Palestinian people.

"We as Canadians are here to demand an end to Canadian complicity in genocide, an end to arms sales to Israel and to the siege of Gaza and occupation, for the release of all our Palestinian political prisoners. In this, the deadliest year for Palestine in history, we are reminded that we are one year closer to the liberation of Palestine. We are reminded that our righteous cause will be victorious and the colonial state of Israel will one day be dismantled."

Organizers told marchers that Ottawa police had informed they would be handing out $475 fines to anyone using a microphone or a megaphone during the march, invoking some noise bylaw, which the police set out to do from the outset. Organizers and demonstrators loudly denounced the City of Ottawa and the police for this vile, politically motivated act. They reiterated with one voice that nothing will stop them from speaking out against the genocide of the Palestinian people and for the liberation of Palestine from the river to the sea!

December 23

December 30

On New Year's Eve, at 11:00 pm, several hundred people gathered at the Human Rights monument on Elgin Street in downtown Ottawa to bring in the New Year and demand a permanent ceasefire and an end to the occupation and genocide of the Palestinian people. That message was projected onto the structure of the Human Rights monument itself: "Let 2024 be the year where this massacre stops!!!"

People shouted slogans demanding a ceasefire now and an end to Canadian government complicity in, and support for, the Israeli Zionist genocide. A few brief prayers and interventions highlighted, as did the event itself, the resolve of the Palestinian people in their resistance to Zionist and imperialist aggression. One spoke of a friend who was in Canada but insisted on having her baby in Gaza, in the worse conditions and in spite of the relentless bombings and destruction. In spite of pleas for her to stay, she returned to Gaza and is now in her ninth month of pregnancy, awaiting to give birth in Palestine.

The final ten second countdown to midnight was projected onto the Human Rights monument as, on the stroke of midnight, balloons bearing the colours of the Palestinian flag were released into the winter sky to the cries of "Ceasefire Now!" The monument now read: "No celebration until liberation."

The event asserted that everyone's New Years resolution is to go on supporting and promoting the resistance struggle of the Palestinian people as an integral part of the struggle of humanity against the darkest forces of reaction and for the victory of the New, and to step up the struggle in defence of human rights and dignity which belong to all by virtue of being human, confident that we are one humanity, one struggle, and that humanity will win!

December 31

St. John's

December 31

Saint John

December 31

Halifax

About 100 people marched through Halifax streets, from Victoria Park to Peace and Friendship Park, in support of the Palestinian people. Organized by the Atlantic Canada Palestinian Society, they shouted slogans all the way, denouncing corrupt politicians who support the Israeli Zionists and genocide, and informing anyone within hearing of the truth about the crimes. They called for those responsible to be brought to trial, to end the siege of Gaza and for a permanent ceasefire. The demonstration also called for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions, and Intifada, amongst other things.

December 23

Rimouski

December 31

Quebec City

December 31

Montreal

On Saturday, December 23, over 500 hundred people gathered at Mont-Royal Park in Montreal to reaffirm that there will be no justice nor peace in Palestine until Israel ends its genocide against the people of Gaza and puts an end to its illegal occupation of Palestine.

Speaker after speaker came forward to highlight these important points.

A young woman from the Palestinian Youth Movement said: "We are gathered here 77 days after the beginning of this genocide. We are witness to the over 20,000 martyrs that have paid the ultimate price for liberation. We have become witness to the thousands of homes, schools and hospitals that have been leveled to the ground by the occupiers. They think they can get away with anything because our world leaders have let us down. What the whole world is witnessing is indescribable."

"The part of fulfilling our revolutionary duty here in the diaspora, in the belly of the beast, is to not let ourselves be desensitized by these horrors. We can never get used to a Palestinian death because every martyr must inspire us to keep fighting. The world knows very well that we are not just fighting Zionism, we are fighting imperialism, we are fighting the war criminals who have funded this genocide. The so-called leaders of the free world that have sold us out, as long as they continue to profit from war, they will continue to sustain it."

"We know now that when they said they were bringing democracy to the Middle East, they were bringing fascism. We know now that when they said that they would protect all human rights, what they meant is to protect their economic interests. We know now that when they said they wanted peace, what they meant is for us to submit to their imperialist project. We are here today to fulfill our revolutionary duty as people of conscience and to combat fascism and imperialism which has scattered itself throughout the world and has called itself a democracy." The crowd answered back with loud chants of Palestine Will Be Free!, Free Palestine!, From the River to the Sea, Palestine Will Be Free!

She then introduced a representative from the Montreal District and Labour Council (CCMM) of the Confederation of National Trade Unions (CNTU) with these words: "As you know, we are currently in a moment where [...] people of conscience have understood that we are fighting a system that sustains the genocide, the same system that denies workers their rights. And the workers of Quebec know that our struggles are united and that we are fighting the same enemy."

The CNTU spokesperson said: "It is an honour for me to be here with you today. The mobilization in support of the Palestinian people continues unabated. It is inspiring, your tenacity is worthy of the greatest respect, the greatest admiration. The CCMM is proud to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people and we expect to carry on the path of solidarity because it is the only acceptable way."

"We have the historic duty to continue pushing for an immediate ceasefire and for a sustainable peace while respecting the rights of the Palestinian people. I am aware that like us, many unions have already adopted motions in solidarity with the Palestinian people and I invite those who have not yet done so to pass such a motion."

Later, a third speaker, a Palestinian refugee, addressed the crowd, saying: "After eleven weeks, there are more than 54,000 people injured. We have more than 9,000 children killed, more than 6,500 women killed. We have more than 10,000 brothers and sisters detained in Zionist jails. [...] There's no safety. All of them need to be freed. Since October 7, more than 4,000 brothers and sisters have been arrested on the West Bank. More than 400 people have been murdered in West Bank."

"The problem is not a matter of self defence. We keep being confused by the words of Trudeau and Mélanie Joly. No occupier has the right to defend themselves. It is always the occupied people, people under occupation which have the right to resist, have the right to defend themselves. Since when, Mr. Trudeau, occupiers, oppressors, aggressors have the right to defend themselves? Since when? In which bible? In which international law? It is based on what Canada decides!"

"I want to say thank you to Gaza because they gave us the opportunity to disclose this hypocrisy around the world. Thank you, Gaza, because you open our eyes on the double standards around the world. Thank you. Gaza, you open our eyes to the plight of human rights. It's been an ongoing genocide. They are targeting and looking to erase our people from the earth. People say everywhere now around the world that we have all become Palestinians."

"But the point is that we need to find where [...] our position [is] from now and go on. Those victims, those people who have been destroyed, they are not just numbers. Everyone has [their] dreams, [their] history, [their] relatives. Everyone has [their] pain. We need to feel it. We need to keep living with it. And we need to insist to be always the voice of the truth. Keep the cause awake at all times. The coming days are for us, not for them. This is a time that will see the tide of justice applied everywhere and bring victory to our people in Gaza, for the victory of the oppressed people in Gaza. [H]umanity nowadays is under a real test. Either [you] accept [...] to stand beside human people or non-human. We are 7 million Palestinian refugees around the world. I am one of them."

He added that "since October 7, I am living with the hope that soon it will be liberated," to which the crowd answered with more chants and began taking to the street to march towards downtown Montreal.

December 23

On the afternoon of December 28, many hundreds of residents gathered in front of the Montreal-North--St.Michel Burough's City Hall. Many of them were families from Montreal North accompanied by with their young children, along with youth making up the majority of the crowd. The area is well-known for its Arab community that makes up some 30 per cent of local residents. Participants carried placards and banners denouncing the Israeli genocide inflicted on the people of Gaza and the narrative by Western media to cover up the crimes of the Israeli army.

In the main, they denounced the the pro-Zionist stand of the Legault government and of the member of the National Assembly in Quebec for the riding of Bourassa-Sauvé, Madwa-Nika Cadet, a member of the Liberal Party of Quebec. They planned to march to her riding office, located in Montreal North as well as to the riding office of Emmanuel Dubourg, Member of Parliament for the federal riding of Bourassa and a member of the Liberal Party of Canada, to denounce his refusal to take a public stand in support of Palestine and against the Israeli crimes committed in Gaza and the West Bank.

Amongst the different speakers to address the crowd was a representative of the Palestinian Youth Movement who said that after 87 days of the siege on Gaza, "the peoples of the world on all continents have not ceased to rise up and demonstrate in support of Palestine." She was met with loud cheers from the crowd. She added, "In this busy shopping period of the year, two days ago we disrupted the activities of enterprises such as Zara and Indigo stores" complicit in Israeli crimes against the people of Palestine.

"We have a message to those who hold power, who keep trying to intimidate us, try to spread fear amongst us and divide us by labelling us as troublemakers. [...] "Mark my words, in a few years, history will retain these demonstrations that have erupted from one end to the other of the country, including the one of today in Montreal North, as elements of a turning point of international solidarity with the Palestinian people.

"Yes! They want to portray our movement as a movement of hate and violence. They try to reduce us [to] silence and to prevent us from revealing the truth. Those who accuse us of supporting terrorism do not want a ceasefire."

"They want to continue to arm and finance the genocide that was committed by Zionists in Gaza. They are carrying on despite the fact that more than 200 people per day are killed."

"Never forget that Canada, our so-called democracy and the country of human rights, counts amongst Canadian and Quebec politicians partners to this genocide.[...] We know why we are fighting. We know that we are fighting for genuine truth, justice and freedom!"

"We are those who have the courage to understand that justice belongs to those who, despite the time passing, despite the continuous cold weather, continue to occupy the streets, sensitize others and support Palestine until its complete liberation and return of its people."

"We are not the ones who are committing these massacres in total impunity. [...] Palestine has united us from all origins and we will continue to fight, because we know that Palestine will live! Palestine will win!," to which the crowd responded: "Palestine will live! Palestine will win!" Participants then marched for over two hours in the streets of Montreal North.

December 28

December 30

Toronto

As 2023 drew to a close many actions were held by Torontonians to continue their ongoing support for the people of Gaza and against the U.S.-Israeli genocide against the people of Gaza and occupied Palestine.

A candlelight vigil held in Toronto's Grange Park on December 22 to pay respects to the victims of Israeli aggression in Gaza was attended by about 100 people. Organized by the Jews Say No to Genocide Coalition, introductory remarks emphasized that there is no justification for the atrocities Israel is committing in Gaza. Sympathy was expressed for the Palestinians in Gaza who are under attack and the names of some of the victims, including many children, were read. A young Palestinian woman shared that she had received news that 14 of her relatives had been killed in one day by the invading Israeli armed forces. Poems of resistance were read, including an excerpt from "Under Siege" by Palestinian national poet Mahmoud Darwish, and the poem "If I Must Die" by Refaat Alareer, who was assassinated by an Israeli air strike on December 7.

On the afternoon of December 23, a militant action with very broad participation began with a rally in Dundas Square in downtown Toronto. This was followed by a march north to College Street, west to Bay and south into the financial district. At each intersection the crowd occupied the space, filling the air with slogans such as From the River to the Sea Palestine Will Be Free! Cease Fire Now! and others. Speeches were also given.

At Bay and King by the Bank of Nova Scotia Offices the march stopped to denounce the profiteering of the bank from its investments in Israel. The march then proceeded to the CBC headquarters to denounce the CBC and its disinformation and false reporting on the genocide and the Palestinian people's fight for justice. The participants also marched to the CTV offices on Queen Street to denounce the network’s pro-Zionist news reporting. The march then moved to Nathan Phillips Square for more slogans, speeches and pledges to continue to carry out actions till the Palestinians are victorious.

On December 24 and again on December 30, banner drops and displays of Palestinian flags took place on several bridges crossing the 401, the Gardiner Expressway and other major highways. A provocation by the police on December 30, banning the banner drop at the Avenue Road/401 bridge, in the interest of “public safety” was denounced widely. The banner drops and flag waving have been taking place for weeks and the response to them has been one clear expression of the support of the people coming into and leaving Toronto for the just cause of the Palestinian people.

On December 31, New Year’s Eve, hundreds of people braved inclement weather and police efforts to divert them by holding a militant march at Toronto Harbourfront where the city was setting off fireworks to mark the New Year. The participants demanded that the city, the province and Canada join the rest of the world to stand with the heroic Palestinian people and stop justifying the genocidal crimes of the U.S.-Israeli war criminals.

The actions affirmed the firm resolve of the people of Toronto to stand as one with the Palestinian people, and continue to demand an end to the U.S.-Israel genocide against the Palestinians and for a ceasefire and permanent peace in 2024.

December 22

December 23

December 24, Flags on overpass to highway

December 31

Niagara Falls

December 24

Windsor

Some 300 Windsorites took part in a Christmas Eve rally and march the afternoon of December 24. The action was led by youth activists, with most of the speakers young Palestinian-Canadians. A spokesperson for Windsor4Palestine expressed appreciation to the community for continuing to come out in support for Palestine at a time he said "the so-called leaders worldwide" sit back and do nothing, waiting for the people to stop protesting. He said that "it is us and the people worldwide that will revive humanity." He ended with a call for unity and said that together we have the strength to make a difference.

A member of University Community Church and biblical scholar, Caroline Schleier Cutler, underlined the importance of speaking out against the atrocities Israel is committing. She quoted the pastor of Bethlehem's Christmas church where all celebrations were cancelled this year, who decried the silence of many. He said empty calls for peace without a ceasefire and an end to occupation, and shallow words of empathy without direct action amount to complicity with the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Schleier Cutler concluded that "this injustice will not continue to exist if the people resist" and expressed the hope that Palestine will one day soon be free.

A young activist with Windsor4Palestine whose family moved to Canada from Gaza when she was a child read a poem. She noted what Christians living in the homeland of Christ were forced to endure this Christmas, with Israel telling the grossest of lies to try to justify killing almost 28,000 innocent civilians. She received applause as she commended "the brothers and sisters in Yemen and Lebanon .. who have shown the world what principle and solidarity looks like" and denounced the Canadian government which, instead of taking action to stop the genocide, is siding with Israel and joining military actions against Yemen. Yemen is the only country to take economic action to pressure Israel to lift the siege on Gaza and let medical supplies in, she explained.

The rally ended with the youth leading chants that reverberated in the streets and neighbourhoods through which people marched for the next hour, receiving many gestures of support and appreciation along the way.

December 24

December 31

Winnipeg

December 30

Saskatoon

December 31

Edmonton

December 31

Calgary

December 23

December 30

Vancouver

Following a vigil for Gaza at the Vancouver Art Gallery, hundreds of mainly young people from all parts of the Lower Mainland (Metro Vancouver) converged on Granville Street at midnight December 31 to welcome the new year with a march for Palestine. Cheers, whistles, and victory signs from passersby greeted the participants of the march before and after midnight, with many joining the march for a while or until the end. Some groups (like a group of South Asians) danced while saluting the demonstrators, adding their music to the chants.

December 22

December 27

December 30

December 31

Coquitlam

December 31

Victoria

December 24

December 30

Nanaimo

December 30

UNITED STATES

New York City

December 23

Boston, MA

December 23

December 31

Harrisburg, PA

December 31

Raleigh, NC

December 23

Atlanta, GA

December 31

Sunrise, FL

December 23

Detroit, MI

December 31

Milwaukee, WI

December 31

New Orleans, LA

December 23

Dallas, TX

December 23

Austin, TX

December 31

Albuquerque, NM

December 23

Portland, OR

December 31

Fairfield, CA

December 28

Orange County, CA

December 23

EUROPE

England

London

December 24

Manchester

December 31

Edinburgh, Scotland

December 30

Ireland

Dublin

December 31

Galway

December 31

Eskilstuna, Sweden

December 31

Eindhoven, Netherlands

December 30

Brussels, Belgium

December 22

Vienna, Austria

December 30

Berlin, Germany

December 23

December 31

France

Paris

December 30

Lyon

December 30

Metz

December 29

Lisbon, Portugal

December 27

Spain

Madrid

December 31

Pamplona

December 31

Barcelona

December 29

December 30

Rome, Italy

December 24

Vatican City

December 25

ASIA

Istanbul, Türkiye

December 25

More than 250,000 people rallied at Istanbul's historic Galata Bridge on New Year's day in solidarity with the people of Palestine and denouncing Israel's genocidal attacks. The rally was organized by the Turkish Youth Foundation.