Palestinian rights groups are converging on Parliament Hill in Ottawa this weekend to demand a ceasefire in the seven-week Israel-Hamas war, as well as an end to the ongoing siege of Gaza.
The Palestinian Youth Movement is crowdfunding costs to help bring people from as far away as Kitchener-Waterloo, Hamilton, Mississauga, Toronto, as well as Quebec City and Montreal, to participate in the 1 p.m. demonstration on Saturday.
“We are traveling from all across Canada to demand an immediate lifting of Israel’s 17-year long siege on Gaza,” said Palestinian Youth Movement spokesperson Yara Shoufani in a text.
“A ‘pause’ is not enough,” she added, referring to the temporary break in fighting that came into effect on Friday. “Thousands of Palestinians have been killed, Gaza’s infrastructure destroyed, and 12,000 Palestinian prisoners are held as hostages in Israeli prisons.”
Oct. 7 marked one of the bloodiest days in Israel’s history with 1,200 Israelis killed and more than 200 taken hostage by Hamas.
In the ensuing weeks, authorities in Gaza say more than 12,000 Palestinians have been killed.
Additionally, the United Nations has reported that more than 1.6 million people have been displaced due to the conflict and thousands of others remain trapped under rubble.
On average in Gaza, a child is killed and two more are injured every ten minutes during this conflict, according to the UN.
Currently, the Red Cross is facilitating the release of hostages held by Hamas and Israel. Despite the current pause in fighting, people across Canada have been preparing for a national march in solidarity with Palestine.
Jo El-Dik, who is half-Palestinian, half-German, is travelling from Kitchener-Waterloo with the Palestinian Youth Movement for tomorrow’s demonstration. “It’s really important to have a large amount of people in Canada’s capital,” the 21-year-old said in an interview.
El-Dik said being part of a large demonstration is “good for the soul.”
“It resonates more and you can feel the impact,” they said. “When you are cold, tired and exhausted, being a part of a large crowd helps you keep up your energy.”
After Hamas’ attacks on Oct. 7, El-Dik said they faced a new reckoning with their Palestinian identity and family history.
“Everything I can do from where I am now is what I have to do,” El-Dik said. “If everyone felt that way and used their feelings in this way, we could make a huge difference.”
El-Dik and others travelling to Ottawa spent part of Friday making posters and signs in preparation for Saturday’s march. When asked why it was important to get involved, El-Dik said, “It doesn’t really feel like a choice, rather something I have to do.”
In a statement sent by email to The Capital Chill, Ottawa police said they are “working closely with our police partners and the City of Ottawa and have the necessary resources in place” for Saturday’s march. Police advised the public to monitor its social media feeds to learn more about traffic disruptions.
