Winnipeg's Palestinian community, supporters rally at Manitoba Legislature
Members, supporters of Winnipeg's Palestinian community voiced hope for peace, urged leaders to call ceasefire
More than 100 people gathered at the Manitoba Legislature Wednesday evening for what organizers called an "emergency rally for Gaza," amidst the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas that has left thousands dead and many more injured on both sides since Oct. 7.
Participants at the rally, which included many members of Winnipeg's Palestinian community, held a vigil for those killed, then marched from the legislature and around Memorial Park before speeches were made.
"I think it's just been going on too long. It's just too much … for people to bear," said Andrea Janz, a co-organizer of Wednesday's rally.
"People are hurting on both sides.… War is not a cure for this."
The rally came a day after an explosion at al-Ahil al-Arabi hospital in the Gaza Strip, which Hamas said killed hundreds of people.
Palestinian officials said the explosion was the result of an Israeli airstrike. Israel has said the blast was caused by a rocket launched by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group that fell short. That group denied responsibility.
While many at the rally carried signs expressing anger toward Israel, organizers say it was intended as a call for peace and action from Canada's government.
Janz said the initial plan was to hold a vigil on the coming weekend for all victims, including the Israeli victims of the initial Hamas attack, but the deadly explosion at the hospital prompted organizers to hold the rally earlier.
"I think it's really important that we call on our politicians to work towards a ceasefire, so that we don't have another situation like what happened yesterday — so that the violence can stop on both sides," said Janz.
Participants urge call for ceasefire
On Wednesday, the federal government dodged questions about who Ottawa believes is responsible for the Gaza hospital blast.
"We're here because this is a massive humanitarian disaster, but we are also really disappointed and shocked at the silence of our Trudeau government, that's supposed to represent human rights," said Candice Bodnaruk of Peace Alliance Winnipeg, one of the organizers of Wednesday's rally.
"I mean, barely a word about the dead children in Gaza, and not calling for a ceasefire."
The war erupted on Oct. 7, after Hamas carried out a cross-border rampage in which at least 1,300 people, mostly civilians, died. Israel's military has said nearly 200 hostages were kidnapped during the attack.
Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip that followed have killed at least 3,478 Palestinians and wounded more than 13,000, Palestinian health officials said Wednesday.
Bassam Hozaima, who attended Wednesday's rally in Winnipeg and has relatives in Gaza, says he fears for the civilians caught in the middle of the war.
"Not everybody in Gaza is Hamas, not … everyone is a combatant," he said. "Now, you have children, you have old people being targeted, being killed, being buried in their homes."
Events of solidarity continue in Winnipeg
Events of solidarity have been held by both Winnipeg's Jewish and Palestinian communities since the latest fighting began. Separate events were held by members of Winnipeg's Jewish and Palestinian communities over the past weekend.
Additionally, a pro-Palestinian rally was held Oct. 9 at Winnipeg city hall and a pro-Israel rally took place Oct. 10 at the Asper Jewish Community Campus.
Janz said she hopes activists from both communities can work toward a point of open dialogue with each other.
"That's something I've spoken with a few of the folks in the community about, in the activist community, because I think that's what has to happen," said Janz.
"It has to start at home. We can't have this divisiveness here."
With files from CBC News and The Associated Press