GUELPH – Almost 100 people gathered in front of Guelph MP Dominique O’Rourke’s office on July 25, calling for a two-way arms embargo, recognition of the State of Palestine, sanctions on Israel and for Canada to push to get aid into Gaza.
According to the United Nation’s (UN) hunger monitor, “the worst-case scenario of famine is currently playing out in the Gaza strip.”
A UN alert about the famine states “immediate action must be taken to end the hostilities and allow for unimpeded, large-scale, life-saving humanitarian response.
“This is the only path to stopping further deaths and catastrophic human suffering.”
Asked about the protest, O’Rourke did not respond directly to questions but referred to her public statement at dominiqueorourke.libparl.ca.
She said she “respects that a peaceful protest is part of our democracy” and called for “an immediate end to the war in Gaza.”
Hiba, a Palestinian-Canadian who grew up in Israel and is using her first name only for safety reasons, said “it’s not about words any more, it’s about real, intentional and effective action.”
She said she always wanted to move from Israel to Canada because of what she knew of Canadian values: “genuine inclusivity, freedom and human rights.”
Now, when it comes to the crisis in Gaza, Hiba feels Canada “is not standing up to the same values that made me fall in love with it in the first place.
“I expected much more from this country that I have come to call home,” she said to the crowd of protestors.
But Hiba expressed hope that “it’s not too late – Canada still has time to jump to the right side of history.”
Protest organizer Horeen Hassan reminded protestors “the people of Palestine have not given up their hope of survival and are reaching to us … who are we to feel defeated?”
The protest was part of an international movement, inspired by Palestinian journalist Bisan Owda, who is calling on people to beat pots and pans to call attention to the famine in Gaza.
“We can’t allow Gaza to be background noise as we go about our daily lives,” Hassan said, encouraging attendees to organize actions that support Gaza.
Debbie Samson, a member of Independent Jewish Voices and Reform Jews for Human Rights, said “Now is the time to learn more, to act more, to resist more, to fight with courage, to speak with strength and to love without limits.”
Another speaker, representing Guelph Interfaith Justice, reminded people that although the crisis may seem insurmountable, each individual has the power to help one, two, or a few people in Gaza, and for those individual Palestinians, that support could change everything.
Organizers encouraged attendees to send support to people in Gaza by donating to the Gaza Food Program or the Gaza Soup Kitchen.
