No. 20

July 31, 2025

Palestine Photo Review

People Worldwide Step Up Actions
Demanding Immediate End to Genocide in Palestine

Ottawa, July 19

As the the U.S./Israeli genocide in Gaza has intensified the peoples worldwide have stepped up their actions to demand Israel be stopped. In countries where their governments are complicit, such as in Canada, the demand is that they end their complicity, immediately implement a two-way arms embargo and take action to force Israel to end its starvation of the people of Gaza.

On July 26 Israel once again illegally boarded and seized a Freedom Flotilla ship the Handala in international waters and kidnapped its crew as it attempted to break the seige and bring humanitaian aid to Gaza. In the past week also pots and pans actions have been organized in many communities to highlight the demand that Israel stop its starving of the people of Gaza. Courageous actions took place in a number of cities in the West Bank in Palestine, and mass actions continued in countries in the region such as Yemen, and Morocco. And in London, England hundreds of thousands participated in a national march for Palestine on July 19, demanding Arms Embargo Now!

Ottawa

A Stand with Gaza demonstration was held in Ottawa on July 19, rallying at the Marion Dewar Plaza in front of City Hall. A spokesperson for the Association of Palestinian Arab Canadians addressed participants before the march through downtown Ottawa.

"For 21 months now, Palestinians in Gaza have been enduring one of the most brutal humanitarian catastrophes of our time, deliberately blocking food, forcing starvation on the children and people. Shame!" she said.

To the applause and cheering of all, she announced: "Another freedom flotilla is making its way to Gaza with our very own Dr. Yipeng aboard." She continued:

"Governments that claim to champion human rights, including our own, are complicit when they remain silent, or worse, when they continue to fund and arm the very occupation forces that are imposing this suffering. [...]

"Aid to a besieged and starving population is not a privilege. It is a right. And until every border is open and until every child in Gaza can sleep without hunger or fear, we will not stop raising our voices. Our demands remain the same: Impose a two-way arms embargo on Israel. End Canadian involvement in illegal settlements and properly fund relief efforts in Gaza including UNRWA.

"We will continue to show up until all these demands are met, until Palestine is free, from the river to the sea. Palestine Will Be Free!"

July 19

On the evening of July 22, close to 500 people, profoundly distressed by the dire situation in Gaza, answered the call for an emergency action at the Human Rights Monument in Ottawa to demand an end to the genocidal starving of Palestinians in Gaza.

A spokesperson for the Palestinian Youth Movement addressed participants before the march. She said in part: "We are marching today as part of an International Day of Action because Gaza is at risk of starving to death. Famine has reached unprecedented levels across the Strip. [...]

"This extreme starvation we see now is just another horrific tool Israel is using to erase the people of Palestine. For almost two years, we have gathered to protest against the depraved Israeli occupation and genocide in Israel. We have marched, yelled, and blocked roads, all to demand an end to massacres, but our Canadian government shamefully continues to be complicit. Canada continues to give the Zionist State diplomatic cover for their bloody crimes and continues to parrot their talking points. Even worse, Canada continues to produce, sell, and send weapons to Israel even from right here in Ottawa. [...]

"We demand that Canada impose an immediate and total arms embargo now, an end to the occupation now, and a stop to the starvation of the people of Gaza.

"Free, Free Palestine! End the Siege on Gaza Now! End the Siege, Let Them Breathe! End the Siege, Let Them Eat!"

July 22

July 25

Outside Egyptian Embassy, July 26

Montreal

July 12

July 22

July 30

Quebec City

July 20

Toronto

On July 19, hundreds of demonstrators gathered at Spadina and Queen's Quay, a busy tourist area in downtown Toronto, to condemn the increasing death and destruction of the criminal U.S./Israeli genocide in Gaza. The action was organized by the Palestinian Youth Movement. Chanting Free, Free Palestine!, Arms Embargo Now!, One: We Are the People; Two: We Won't Be Silent; Three: Stop the Bombing Now, Now Now, Now! and many other slogans, protesters marched up Spadina Avenue, stopping at intersections along the way to emphasize their indignation at the ongoing war crimes being committed.

As the march began, an increasing police presence could be seen: police on bicycles, police in riot gear and armed with smoke or tear gas grenade launchers; police on horseback, far out of proportion to the size of the peaceful march. By the time the marchers reached King Street, the police, including OPP, had carried out a number of unprovoked assaults on the demonstration, violently snatching and arresting 11 people while dozens more were shoved to the ground, tackled, punched, pinned under riot gear and threatened with arrest.

The Palestinian Youth Movement, in a statement on the police violence, called on everyone to support those targeted by the state, to continue to stand together and take to the streets, and to deepen their organizing in support of Palestine. They stated, "We are not going anywhere," pointing out, "Every baton swing, every violent charge, every arrest is proof that they fear what we are building." Their full statement can be found here.

July 19

Guelph

July 25

Sudbury

July 26

North Bay

July 13

On July 24 and 25, members and supporters of Ceasefire Now Nipissing staged pickets from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm at Nipissing-Timiskaming Liberal MP Pauline Rochefort's office in North Bay. The action was to press their demands for an in-person meeting with her, for Canada to implement a two-way arms embargo on Israel, for a full ceasefire in Gaza and for the implementation of an aid regime that fulfills the needs of the Palestinian people.

Instead of meeting with Ceasefire Now Nipissing, Rochefort closed her office for the two days. Ceasefire Now Nipissing had informed before the event that it would be a peaceful political action that would not interfere with persons coming to the office.

Many North Bay and area residents stopped by during the two days to offer their support and to denounce the Canadian government for its complicity in the U.S./Israeli genocide in Palestine.

"Unfortunately, Pauline Rochefort was not willing to engage with her constituents this week, choosing instead to lock her doors, reportedly as a 'safety precaution' according to a constituent who called to inquire about it," Ceasefire Now Nipissing reported.

"We knew that an in-person meeting may not be granted immediately but we wanted to make sure that she understood the urgency of the plight of Palestinians and that she has power to directly help end this holocaust. [...]

"We are extremely disappointed, but we won't be dissuaded. We will continue to apply pressure to our representatives and hope that Canada finds the courage to act NOW," they said.

Ceasefire Now Nipissing also issued a statement condemning the hypocrisy of Prime Minister Mark Carney who said on July 24 that Israel denying humanitarian aid in Gaza is a "violation of international law."

"Canada can issue all the condemnation it wants but we are STILL bankrolling this holocaust. Words are meaningless without swift action.

"Canadians have been vilified, ignored and locked out of their MPs offices, arrested, had their jobs threatened and taken away, and been physically assaulted; all for calling on our leaders to do the right thing and end this horror," Ceasefire Now Nipissing stated. "CANADA MUST ACT NOW!"

They are calling on Prime Minister Mark Carney, Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand and MP Pauline Rochefort for a full ceasefire; an end to the starvation blockade; humanitarian access for the United Nations and other international organizations to deliver food and aid; sanctions against Israel; and a full two-way arms embargo with no loopholes.

July 24

Sarnia

July 25

Windsor

July 20

Winnipeg

Sit-in demands government take measures to bring Gazan refugees to Canada, July 15

Saskatoon

July 27

Calgary

July 13

July 27

Vancouver

July 19

Abbotsford

July 13

Victoria

July 7

Nanaimo

July 26

Duncan

July 5

INTERNATIONAL

United States

As part of submitting to extortion of the U.S. executive branch, Columbia University is expelling, suspending for three years, and removing diplomas of close to 80 students who demonstrated for Palestine during student encampments last year. In response the students have refused to denounce their just efforts against the U.S./Zionist genocide in Gaza. As one, they said when it came choosing between the people of Palestine or Columbia, they stood with Palestine. Across the country students, professors and staff continue to demand freedom for Palestine and an end to the U.S./Zionist genocide. A complete arms embargo and full and unlimited humanitarian aid now are key demands.

Great pressure is being exerted by the executive branch using its police powers against students, professors and staff standing up for Palestine and for their rights to speak and organize. These include arbitrary cancellation of visas, detention, and threats of deportation for those who are not citizens, arrests with felony charges, firings, expulsions, being blocked from campus, and more. With vigorous and repeated support and many lawsuits, some of those detained have now been freed and rejoined resistance.

The Trump executive, including the Pentagon, Homeland Security and Justice Departments are all working to undermine the rights of students and the existing system of liberal education at universities private and public. Arbitrarily freezing funds, canceling research grants, requiring lowered admissions of international students, and demanding an end to support for Palestine in the name of “combating anti-Semitism” are all part of the blackmail and extortion being used.

Columbia’s agreement adds more campus police with arrest powers, further limits protest while increasing disciplinary actions against students, along with imposing a “new definition” of anti-Semitism that equates it with any opposition to Israel. The government is interfering in academic programs, and its vague language leaves the door open to further interference. For example, it says Columbia must “ensure the educational offerings are comprehensive and balanced,” and that the university must expand “intellectual diversity” by increasing staff for its Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies. Meanwhile its Middle Eastern studies department and curriculum is under review.

On July 23, one day after expelling and suspending students, Columbia submitted to this agreement, which was immediately denounced by faculty and students as they step up their support for Palestine and refuse to be silenced.

New York City

Sit-in at headquarters for shipping monopoly Maersk demands it stop sending military equipment
to Gaza, July 11.

A mass action took place in New York City on July 26. Organizers reported "Earlier today, we started our protest at the UN headquarters here in New York City, where we demanded that all UN member states immediately impose sanctions on Israel and an arms embargo. Gaza is being starved, and every single person, every single leader, every single country has to take a stand right now."

"We demand the total liberation of Palestine, and we demand the immediate entry of aid, of food, of water into Gaza for the steadfast people of Gaza."