Palestinian flags and ‘Free Palestine’ signs were seen on Parliament Hill Sunday afternoon as thousands rallied to express disappointment over the Canadian government’s relationship with Israel.
The Ottawa Protest for Palestine, organized by the Palestinian Students Association at the University of Ottawa and the Palestinian Students Association at Carleton University, also aimed to show continued solidarity with Palestinians under Israeli oppression.
Protestors at the event called for accountability from the Canadian government and an end to Israel’s occupation of the region. The calls for action followed the recent announcement of a cease-fire between Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) and Hamas that halted an 11-day military confrontation and deadly airstrikes.
A Human Rights Watch report published last month stated Israeli authorities’ actions in certain areas of Occupied Palestinian Territory “amount to the crimes against humanity of apartheid and persecution.”
The ceasefire is a step in the right direction towards achieving peace, according to Ibrahim Helmy, the media spokesperson for the partnered Palestinian Student Associations and a graduate student at Carleton University. However, Helmy said the ceasefire does not address the root of the problem or the Canadian government’s complicity.
“Our main goal is to open a discourse with Trudeau and other members of Parliament about what Canada can do to actually achieve peace in Palestine,” Helmy said. “With more protests, there will be more awareness being raised … more people will address the government and hold them accountable for their part in the crimes being committed there in Palestine.”
Helmy said he hopes the continued community support will help change the Canadian government’s current position.
The Government of Canada’s official foreign policy, last updated in 2019, states Canada “does not recognize Israel’s unilateral annexation of East Jerusalem” and “does not recognize permanent Israeli control over territories occupied in 1967 (the Golan Heights, the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip).”
In reaction to recent Israeli airstrikes in these territories, the Canadian government condemned the general violence while recognizing Israel’s right to security and Palestinians right to self-determination. Canada did not commit to further action.
“This kind of violence against innocent civilians should be intolerable, this is a humanitarian cause,” Helmy said. “It’s not a cause for Arabs, Muslims, Christians, Jews, any one of a specific community or group. We’re really here just to stop the senseless violence and the illegal occupation that is evident in international law.”
Ruby Harper, a Mi’kmaq First Nations woman and participant at Sunday’s event, said the protest was her first time demonstrating for the Palestinian cause. Harper added it won’t be her last because the issue hits close to home.
“I find this feels very similar to what we see happen to Indigenous people [in Canada]. When people fight over land they don’t protect people, and nothing is more important than people,” Harper said. “The government of Canada has to know we’re here. They have to know that even though Palestine is thousands of miles away, we’re here because people care and the Canadian government needs to do the right thing.”
Alyssa Schenk, the chairperson of Anakbayan Ottawa, a chapter of an international organization for Filipino youth, said she participated in both protests with her organization to show support for the Palestinian community.
“We stand in solidarity with all peoples that are facing exploitation through continued colonialism and imperialism around the world,” Schenk said. “It’s been evident that despite the ceasefire the violence continues and that our solidarity is still important.”
Darina Daouk, a Palestinian-Canadian and student at the University of Ottawa, said she found encouragement in the number and diversity of protestors. She said she hopes the support will continue to grow.
“I’m here for all the Palestinians suffering under the occupation of the Israeli government, for everyone who died, for everyone who didn’t get the chance to pursue their dreams, for everyone that has no basic rights,” Daouk said.
By standing in solidarity with Palestinians, Daouk said she hopes her presence will encourage other people to protest, support human rights and take a stand against settler-colonialism in Canada.
“As a Canadian, I have to stand for human rights. Canada is known to push for humanitarian causes and so as a Canadian citizen, it is my duty to be here and I hope to encourage other Canadians to come out and support this cause.”
Harper urged people to educate themselves to cultivate informed opinions so they can act from a place of love and understanding.
“At the end of the day, most people are going to do the right thing and most people care about individuals and love,” Harper said. “Love has got to be stronger than this.”
Featured image by Spencer Colby
