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In a single air strike within the Gaza Strip, Ali Afana misplaced 22 relations.
With web and communication providers shut down in Gaza, he additionally has no concept whether or not his father, mom and different relations are nonetheless alive amid the chaos in that a part of the Center East.
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Because the bombing from Israel continues, he acknowledges having issue speaking to his six youngsters concerning the lack of a lot life in each Israel and Gaza since Oct. 7.
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“We attempt typically to cover the information from them. It’s horrible and terrifying,” mentioned Afana, {an electrical} engineer and Kanata resident who left Gaza together with his spouse, Islam, for a high-tech future in Canada in 2010.
“They ask, ‘Why is that girl screaming? Why is that little child coated in mud?’ And so they see blood within the hospitals. You attempt to reply, however you possibly can’t.”
On Saturday night, Afahan and his household had been on their solution to a service on the Corridor of Peace subsequent door to the Scott Avenue mosque.
Roughly 300 individuals had been anticipated.
The occasion, sponsored by Jerusalem Neighborhood Providers of Ontario, is in step with a convention within the Muslim religion the place households collect to pay respects to misplaced ones.
Usually, they’re small affairs, however, with a lot demise, providers have been mixed in order that a number of households can attend collectively. The same service was held on Oct. 20, with 400 in attendance.
“We’ve by no means achieved it this manner earlier than,” mentioned Mohamed Abokasem, president of Jerusalem Neighborhood Providers of Ontario. “However the numbers (of deceased) are past staggering. We’re right here to supply emotional assist and psychological assist, with all the pictures we’ve seen over the previous three weeks.”
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Afana is in the dead of night about what’s taking place, given the blackout in Gaza. He sometimes receives items of knowledge from cellphone messages, however is in any other case left to piece collectively particulars from information reviews.
Whereas the Israeli authorities has informed residents to maneuver south in Gaza to keep away from the bombing, Afana says he’s unsure anybody is protected.
“The air strikes are in every single place,” he mentioned. “Truthfully, I couldn’t contact (household). I’m not conscious of anybody alive now. It’s actually, actually terrifying, us not understanding. We’d like somebody to inform us.”
He mentioned he was pleading for all western governments, together with Canada’s, to take motion that will result in an instantaneous ceasefire.
“Why is Canada or the U.S. not serving to? Canada is a rustic that’s supposed to face for human rights. The killing should be stopped now,” Afana mentioned.
Abokasem says his group is just not about politics.
“We attempt to not make political feedback. Every little thing will get taken out of context. It is a battle that has gone on for 75 years. Not the whole lot has to do with Oct. 7.”
That, in fact, was the beginning of the most recent stage within the battle when Hamas attacked Israel, leading to what Israeli officers mentioned had been 1,400 deaths.
Counter-attacks from Israel have been highly effective.
On Friday, the Gaza Ministry of Well being reported that greater than 7,000 Palestinians had been killed, together with 2,900 youngsters.
“Anyone has to step up,” Abokasem mentioned. “There’s killing on either side. There are rules of human rights and equality. It’s not about taking sides. It’s about human lives misplaced.”
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