Photo Review

Relentless Global Support for Palestinian People and Condemnation of U.S./Israeli Attacks on Iran

Montreal, June 21

Ottawa

On the evening of June 11, the Association of Palestinian Arab Canadians (APAC) hosted its 9th annual Palestine Day on the Hill, in the Sir John A. MacDonald Building in front of Parliament Hill. The event was co-hosted by parliamentarians Salma Zahid, Fares Abu Al Soud, Mario Beaulieu, Alexandre Boulerice, Don Davies, Leah Gazan, Jenny Kwan, Heather McPherson and Jenna Sudds.

This year's theme, "Threads of Resilience," spoke to the unbroken strength of the Palestinian people in the face of generations of dispossession, occupation, and now, genocide, and to the fact that Palestinian resistance is not just a story of endurance, but a demand for justice and accountability.

In her introduction to the event, an APAC spokesperson elaborated: "Threads of Resilience refers to the method used in Tatreez, the traditional cross-stitch patterns of Palestinian dress such as those used on our keffiyehs. Often these threads are what we hold close here in the diaspora because they tie us back to our home, reminding us of our duty to our people and our land. Threads are part of our story. One thread can easily be broken, but woven together, they can become unbreakable."

The next speaker, APAC President Waleed Ibrahim, said in part:

"We gather today on day 613 of Israel's relentless genocide against the Palestinian people. For 613 days, the men, women, and children of Gaza have been forced to endure the heaviest and most sustained bombing campaign in modern history, a campaign where Israel has dropped roughly five times the equivalence of the nuclear bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima, in one of the most densely populated strips of land on Earth, one seventh the size of the City of Ottawa.

"For almost two years now, Israel has been allowed to commit unspeakable atrocities. The truth is that the most reputable human rights organizations and international law authorities as well as humanitarian aid organizations have all been sounding the alarm that Israel is committing war crimes. The ICJ [International Court of Justice], the world's foremost legal authority, has said that there is plausible reason to believe that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, and the ICC [International Criminal Court] has issued arrest warrants for Benjamen Netanyahu. The evidence is clear. We don't' need more of it.

"The bottom line is that we are at a critical moment. Israel is committing genocide and openly speaks of ethnically cleansing Palestinians with the support of the U.S. President who muses about turning Gaza into the Riviera of the Middle East. As a Canadian of Palestinian origin and the son of a Nakba survivor, it is difficult for me to admit that we may be witnessing the final stages of the ethnic cleansing of Palestine.

"But it is not too late to prevent it from happening if we act now. Palestine is a litmus test and how we respond will tell us how History will judge us. Decision-makers have to confront the reality that what Israel wants now, and has always wanted, is Historic Palestine without the Palestinian people.

"Accepting this reality will position Canada to rethink its foreign policy so that we can urgently take the following much needed actions:

"1. Given the very real danger of mass expulsion and annexation, now is the time to recognize the State of Palestine without condition.

"2. Canada must impose a long overdue arms embargo without loopholes. We refuse to engage in arms trade with a State that is accused at the ICJ of genocide.

"3. Canada should ensure our commitment to International Law and abide by the rulings of the ICC and ICJ. We urge the government to immediately suspend the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement.

"4. We call on our government to continue to forcibly insist that Israel allow humanitarian aid agencies, especially UNRWA, to operate, and for our government to significantly expand humanitarian assistance.

"5. That this government recognize that the silencing of Palestinian voices and the denial of our narratives, including the Nakba, is a rapidly growing problem domestically and a distinct form of hatred that must be recognized as part of the Federal anti-racism strategy."

Other speakers were Samar Odeh, a member of the APAC Board of Directors; Salma Zahid, Liberal Party MP and Chair of the Canada-Palestine Parliamentary Friendship Group; Mario Beaulieu, Bloc Québécois MP; Heather McPherson, NDP MP; Fares Abu Al Soud, Liberal Party MP; Amira Elghawaby, Canada's special representative on combatting Islamophobia.

June 11

The March for Gaza demonstration took place in Ottawa on Saturday, June 14. The march was of particular significance, as people from Ottawa and Gatineau had travelled to Egypt to take part in the March for Gaza heading to the Rafah border to break the Israeli siege and to let humanitarian aid into Gaza. One of them is Doctor Yipeng Ge, who has practiced in Gaza and who, at every opportunity, speaks out against the genocide and for a free Palestine.

At the Human Rights Monument, before the march, a spokesperson for the Palestinian Youth Movement addressed this issue as things were unfolding:

"People of conscience from around the world right now are trying to break the siege by marching to the Rafah border. These peaceful marchers were immediately met with violence from the treacherous Egyptian government -- violently detaining individuals, stealing their passports and forcibly deporting them. Despite this, the march continues and we stand here in support of our brave brothers and sisters who are risking everything in the hope of helping Gaza.

"While regular people desperately try to offer any kind of material support, Western governments are putting off even discussion on recognizing a Palestinian State. This week, a special UN meeting was supposed to be held in New York to discuss the topic of recognition. But after Israel's illegal attacks on Iran, this meeting has been postponed. We remind our government that recognition means nothing without an end to the genocide.

"Recognition will not stop the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people, but an arms embargo could. This is why we march week after week, month after month, to fill the streets with our demand: Arms Embargo Now! But even as this demand echoes across the country, Canada shamefully still provides Israel with diplomatic cover and material support, even as the violence against Palestinians reaches new heights, even as Israel breaks ceasefire deal after ceasefire deal, continuing to bomb Lebanon to this day, even as Israel forcibly expands into Syria and even as they suddenly and viciously attacked Iran just a few days ago

"But we will not allow Israel's crimes to go unseen. We stand with our people in Gaza, the West Bank, and across Palestine. We stand with the people of Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Iran, with the people of conscience around the world that the Zionist regime thinks it can crush. We will continue to stand with them until the end of the genocide, until the end of the occupation, and until Palestine is free.

"Gaza, Gaza, Food and Water! Egypt, Let Them Cross the Border!"

June 14, March for Gaza

June 21

On Saturday, July 5, hundreds of people gathered at the Human Rights Monument in Ottawa to demand an end to the siege on Gaza and an end to the genocide. In the call to action, organizers pointed out:

"In February of 2024, we took to the streets to condemn the flour massacres, when Palestinians were murdered as they tried to get bags of flour. Now, more than a year later, the complete siege on Gaza has only been tightened. Aid centres have become killing zones and what little flour Palestinians are able to get is being laced with opioids. The people of Gaza deserve to live and the only way they can is for an end to the genocide and an end to the siege. Until these demands are met, we will continue marching!"

Before the march, a spokesperson for the Palestinian Youth Movement said:

"We are here today to oppose the ongoing genocide on the people of Palestine for the past 637 days. As we gather, the Zionist entity continues to escalate its genocide against the people of Gaza. This past week, the Israeli Occupation Forces has carried out relentless massacres on the people of Gaza, targeting densely populated areas and obliterating entire family lineages. Israel continues to lure Palestinians into American aid sites, only to execute them on video, reinforcing its clear pattern of targeting safe areas and aid seekers.

"For 126 days, all borders crossing into Gaza have been completely sealed, blocking any and all essential aid from entering the Strip. What we're witnessing is a systematic use of starvation, siege, and extermination as weapons of control.

"For the past 21 months, Israel has also been bombing Yemen, attacking Syria, invading Lebanon, and striking Iran, and the Canadian government continues to be complicit in all of it. Canada profits from the occupation by exporting weapons, funding surveillance technologies and offering political cover for Zionist crimes. It is not silence. It is active support. Our demands are clear: We need a two-way arms embargo now!"

July 5

Montreal

June 14

June 21

Toronto

On the evening of June 13 several hundred people gathered at Bay and Front Streets for an action called by the Palestinian Youth Movement. The purpose was to support the Global March on Gaza and denounce the attacks on participants by the Egyptian government and others who collaborate with the criminal Zionist state to maintain the siege of Gaza and deny humanitarian aid.

Speakers congratulated the thousands of people from 54 countries around the world, including Canadians, who are taking part in the Global March. They organized to march to Rafah to demand an end to the brutal siege on Gaza and the deliberate starvation of the heroic Palestinian people by the U.S.-backed Israeli Zionist regime. Speakers also condemned the Zionist regime for its criminal aggression against Iran, backed by the U.S., an attempt to engulf the whole region in the flames of war. In spite of this, the demonstrators assured, the Resistance will not be deterred.

After listening to the speeches, they marched through the downtown area; among their slogans: End the Siege on Gaza Now!, Stop Bombing Gaza! Stop Bombing Lebanon! Stop Bombing Syria! Stop Bombing Iran!

On June 15 as the Leaders' Summit of the Genocide 7 began in Kananaskis, another rally and march took place on the Lakeshore. People gathered outside the Prince's Gate entrance to the Canadian National Exhibition, where they were joined by a car caravan from Mississauga. The theme was worldwide solidarity in support of the Resistance in Gaza, in all of Palestine, in Lebanon, Yemen and Iran.

Speakers emphasized that the 616 days of the current Israeli war on Gaza, supported by the countries of the G7, is a continuation of an occupation and violation of the rights of the Palestinian people that has been going on for 77 years. They condemned the Canadian government for its complicity in U.S./Israeli crimes and demanded an immediate two-way arms embargo and that Canada fulfil its obligations under international law, including defending Canadians under attack in Egypt. They saluted every effort being made worldwide to break the siege and end the occupation, including the Global March and the Freedom Flotilla, expressing confidence that the Resistance will triumph and the worldwide movement will build until Palestine is free.

Chants of In our Millions, In Our Billions, We Are All Palestinians! and We Are All the Children of Palestine! and others condemning the Israeli occupation and siege of Gaza and U.S./Israeli crimes in the Middle East filled the air, with many passing drivers honking horns and raising fists in support.

Several hundred Torontonians gathered at the U.S. consulate in Toronto on June 22 to denounce the U.S. bombing of Iran's nuclear facilities and Israel's ongoing military aggression against Iran.

Contingents of workers, youth, artists, and people from all walks of life vigorously denounced the U.S./Israeli crimes against Iran and the genocide of the Palestinian people, with chants of Free Palestine!, Hands Off Iran!, End the Occupation Now!, Ceasefire Now! echoing through the streets as demonstrators marched from the consulate through the downtown area. Many signs and slogans condemned the complicity of the Canadian government in the genocide and called for an immediate arms embargo.

June 15

July 5

Sudbury

A picket took place in front of Scotiabank on Barrydowne July 5. Scotiabank is one of the largest investors in Elbit Systems, Israel's largest armaments manufacturer. Elbit is the prime contractor for the Merkava tank which has been used extensively in Gaza. Investigation by the No Nickel For Genocide Working Group has shown that the tank engine and transmission are made in Germany from nickel refined in Norway but mined and smelted in Sudbury. The action demanded Scotiabank divest from Elbit.

July 5

Windsor

June 14

A militant Hands off Iran! rally was held on June 21. The first speaker was Margaret Villamizar of the Marxist-Leninist Party who denounced the Canadian government for not uttering a word about Israel's criminal and dangerous unprovoked attack on Iran's nuclear facilities, an egregious violation of international law and the UN Charter. Instead, she said, Canada repeats Israel's bogus claim of self-defence and refuses to acknowledge where it clearly does apply, which is to Iran's actions. It also repeats the other big lie that the legitimate resistance of an occupied people like the Palestinians constitutes terrorism.

She said the call for Canada to implement a two-way arms embargo with Israel is now more important than ever, as is stepping up the work to make Canada a zone for peace by getting out of the U.S. war machine. That means removing Canada from the aggressive U.S.-led NATO alliance and the U.S.-commanded NORAD. It is work that falls to us, the people of Canada and Quebec, Margaret said, as the government and parties in parliament who in our name are supporting the U.S./Israeli war of extermination against the Palestinian people and criminal attacks on Iran while also committing to spend billions more on war preparations to appease Trump, are not about to do it.

Speakers that followed, representing the youth and student organizations that called the action, hailed the achievements of the Palestinian Resistance and those standing with them in dealing blows to the U.S./Zionist aggressor from South Lebanon, Yemen and the Islamic Republic of Iran. They decried others such as the UN, NATO, the Arab League and governments, including Canada's, as well as others that give lip service to Palestinian liberation. However, they are too busy collaborating with the aggressors and making backroom deals for money, land and other arrangements beneficial to themselves, to fulfil their obligations under the UN Charter and international law or to turn their words of support for Palestine into deeds.

Organizers stressed the need for activists to move beyond the notion that awareness is resistance, and to actually stand in support of the Resistance, and to do it with a clear conscience, without hesitation or allowing those fomenting division on a sectarian or any other basis to disrupt the unity that is needed to stop the enemy.

The rally ended with repeated shouts of Long Live the Resistance! Long Live Palestine! Free Free Palestine! and Hands off Iran!