A group of protesters calling for a cease-fire in Gaza walked through downtown Cranbrook on Nov. 18
They gathered in Rotary Park and made their way through the downtown core towards the Save On Foods parking lot on Victoria Ave. North. Approximately 50 people showed up to support the cause.
The group held up signs and waved Palestinian flags, and they shouted a few chants. The group could be heard saying, “free free Palestine,” and “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”
Protest organizer Khadija said she feels profound sadness for Palestinians, who have lost their homes and land to the Israeli government, but is nevertheless pleased to see people around the world speak out about the crisis.
Black Press Media has agreed to not publish Khadija’s last name.
“We’ve been protesting this cause for a really long time, decades really. It’s been going on for 75 years. We just want to make sure we’re heard here and lend our voice,” she said.
“This didn’t start on Oct. 7. This is nothing new. It was heartening to see the world stand up, to see all the protests around the world and to see people speaking up about it and to see all the people supporting Palestinians.”
The recent conflict in Gaza started on Oct. 7 when Hamas — a group that Canada considers to be a Palestine-based Islamist terrorist organization — fired thousands of rockets at Israel, released dozens of fighters to infiltrate Israeli borders and took hundreds of Israelis hostage. The Israeli government declared war in response to this incident by cutting off power and supplies to the Gaza Strip and launching rocket attacks into the area.
Conflicts between Israel and Palestine have been ongoing for decades. In 1947 the United Nations created Israel by dividing British-controlled Palestine into two states — one Arab and the other Jewish. Approximately 700,000 Palestinians were expelled from or fled Israel in wars following this divide.
Today, The State of Israel continues to encroach on Palestinian land. The current Israeli government has allowed for settlement expansion into Palestinian territory which is illegal under international law and Palestinian families continue to be evicted from their homes.
Organizers of the Cranbrook protest circulated letters for participants to sign that called on Kootenay East MLA Tom Shypitka to support a cease-fire in Gaza.
As of Nov. 20, 72 B.C politicians have signed a letter addressed to the Canadian government calling for a cease-fire, including Cranbrook councillor Wayne Stetski, Nelson councillors Leslie Payne and Rik Logtenberg, and Creston councillors Monique Arès and Norm Eisler.
The letter expressed disappointment that the Canadian government did not support a cease-fire on a resolution at the United Nations General Assembly, and instead chose to stay neutral by abstaining from voting either for or against it.
It also requested that the government support unrestricted access to humanitarian aid and help secure the release of all hostages.
READ MORE: B.C politicans sign letter calling for ceasefire in Gaza
“We all demand a cease-fire now. I think it’s insane it hasn’t happened. I think if this was a Western country, we wouldn’t be protesting. This would be over,” she said.
Khadija is not Palestinian, but she has Palestinian friends and she marched in support of them.
“Palestinians deserve to live freely on their own land. They deserve to have a vibrant life without fear. The children deserve to be kids,” she said.
Khadija said it’s important for people to continue to share information about the crisis online and through e-mail, to sign petitions and to write to MPs and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asking for Canada to support a cease-fire. Citizens can also donate to causes like the Islamic Relief Fund and Doctors Without Borders.
— With files from The Canadian Press