Winnipeggers rally to condemn Israel's attacks on Iran, humanitarian crisis in Gaza

After Israel's recent attacks on Iran, dozens of Winnipeggers lined up on Portage Avenue to protest the military strikes and the ongoing war and humanitarian crisis in Gaza. 

The death toll in both countries is growing as Israel and Iran continue to exchange missile attacks for a third consecutive day, with Israel warning that worse is to come.

Early Friday morning, Israel targeted Iran's Defence Ministry headquarters in Tehran and sites it says were associated with Iran's nuclear program in what appears to be the most significant attack the country has faced since the 1980s.

Iranian missiles evaded Israeli air defences and slammed into buildings deep inside Israel, causing civilian casualties.

Saru Chahal was among a group of people who gathered outside Polo Park to show solidarity with Iran at the Palestinian Association of Manitoba's weekly rally on Saturday.

"A preemptive strike does not make sense because you are starting a war,"  Chahal said. "You can't just attack somebody because you think they're going to attack you." 

In light of Israel's attacks and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Chahal said the Canadian government should stop supporting Israel.

Prime Minister Mark Carney has called for Israel and Iran to exercise "maximum restraint" and move toward a diplomatic solution. He also criticized Iran's missile strikes while affirming Israel's right to defend itself to ensure its security.

"It makes absolutely no sense," Chahal said, referring to Carney's statement. "They need to stop." 

'We are peacekeepers'

At the rally, Cara Lee Fast said the Canadian government helped create the rules that have bonded international relations after the Second World War and it is the country's responsibility to ensure the world is led accordingly. 

"We are peacekeepers. That is what Canada is," Fast said.  

Israel's attacks are "unconscionable" to Rob Cook, who decried the death of civilians in Iran killed by missiles. 

"There's no way this should be going on in this day and time," he said. "It needs to be stopped … this can't go on." 

Cook said participating in the rally is a way of lending his voice for those who are enduring suffering in Iran and Gaza.

"We … do what we can to hopefully wake some politicians up and have them actually start making some concrete actions."

Ramsey Zeid, president of the Canadian Palestinian Association of Manitoba, said protesters have been coming out every Saturday for the last 18 months since the Israel-Hamas war began. 

He said Canada must interfere and place sanctions on Israel. 

"We just need to stop this genocide because too many innocent people are dying for no reason and that's happening on a daily basis. Now Israel is taking the war to Iran for no reason at all. The world must step in before innocent lives are lost," Zeid said. 

He also called on Canada to go back to its peacekeeping roots.

"Canada has always been a peacekeeping country and we need to get involved more and go back to peacekeeping," Zeid said. 

The Jewish Federation of Winnipeg said it is closely monitoring the escalation of conflict in the Middle East. 

"During this tense and uncertain time, we stand with unwavering solidarity with our Israeli family as they face threats and the potential for further violence," Jeff Lieberman, the federation's CEO, told CBC on Sunday. 

Lieberman said the airstrikes against Iran were necessary to protect Israel. He said Tel Aviv targeted military sites and weapons were not directly pointed at civilians. 

"Iran cannot have nuclear capability, and Israel is doing the world a favour by doing what they're doing," he said. 

At the moment there are no known threats to Winnipeg's Jewish community, Lieberman said. The federation has also cancelled a trip to Israel that was planned for next week.