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Individuals from many stroll of life and religion — younger and outdated — marched peacefully to Parliament Hill Saturday afternoon to loudly name for a right away ceasefire and medical help for Gaza.
A gradual stream of protesters, many pushing strollers and pulling wagons, made their manner as much as Canada’s most well-known entrance garden to name, once more, for a ceasefire.
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The march was organized by the Palestinian Youth Motion Ottawa together with scholar and labour teams to point out solidarity with Palestinians. The youth group is organized and say they’re a motion that “will rise from each nook of the world till all our calls for are met.”
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It was simply one in every of a number of rallies throughout the nation, and by 4 p.m., the Ottawa crowd had swelled to thousands-strong, however extra had been nonetheless gathering after which some marched by means of the ByWard Market, the place younger protesters proudly waved Palestinian flags and cheered from the rooftop of an above-ground automobile park.
Audio system from Indigenous youth teams, Palestinian youth, and Impartial Jewish Voices addressed the rally — all calling for a ceasefire.
Below largely sunny skies, protesters held placards condemning the warfare.
One little one held an indication that learn: “I might be a goal in Palestine.”
Some audio system led mass chants:
“We demand a ceasefire.
Free Free Palestine
From the River to the Sea,
Palestine can be free”
Raed Abdullah mentioned he was compelled to protest with involved buddies on Parliament Hill, and he desires everybody to be taught from the world’s previous atrocities to be spared extra hatred sooner or later.
“I need the general public to be taught from the Holocaust and different injustices. Our ethical conscience must be constant and we should always not choose and select who we hate and who we like. And if we do, we’re prone to hate,” Abdullah mentioned.
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A big group of individuals got here collectively on Parliament Hill to rally in help of Palestinians, whereas calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023.
March for Gaza! demonstrations had been deliberate in additional than two dozen Canadian cities on Saturday to help the residents of the Strip and the worsening humanitarian disaster. The protesters are calling for an unfettered movement of humanitarian help into the territory and an finish to Canada’s help for Israel’s army motion in opposition to Hamas, branded a terrorist group in 2002.
Sam Hersh, of Impartial Jewish Voices, mentioned he confirmed as much as battle for human rights. One of many buttons he wore mentioned “Self-Loving Jew for Palestinian Liberation.”
“A number of us are right here as a result of we’re not okay with what’s being achieved in our title and we would like a ceasefire,” mentioned Hersh, whereas holding the top of a banner that learn: “Not In Our Identify, Jews Towards Genocide.”
Najeh, who didn’t need his final title used, stood on the gates to Parliament Hill, proudly holding a Palestinian flag. He appears to be like as much as the Peace Tower and mentioned the federal government must hearken to them.
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“We’re those constructing this nation they usually should hearken to us. They are saying there’s regulation and guidelines in warfare, however the Western governments are failing us.”
He stopped simply wanting tearing up when requested about his household again in Gaza.
“It’s depressing. It’s arduous to explain. Gaza is sort of a jail.”
The Hamas-run Well being Ministry in Gaza experiences greater than 9,440 Palestinians have died within the warfare with Israel, which was triggered by the Hamas incursion into that nation on Oct. 7 that killed greater than 1,400 Israelis, whereas greater than 200 others had been taken again into Gaza as hostages.
Israel instantly declared warfare in response and has launched day by day assaults since then, stepping up bombardments over the previous week and triggering rising world alarm concerning the lack of meals, gas and different fundamental provides for Gaza’s roughly 2.3 million residents.
gdimmock@postmedia.com
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