Pro-Palestinians hold rally in Montreal

“We’re all humans. We don’t see any difference between being a Palestinian or being a Jew. We all deserve to live a peaceful life without war, without fighting,” said Maher Muzaini, one of many who took part in a rally in downtown Montreal on Wednesday organized by pro-Palestinian student groups and youth organizations, which was held outside the Guy-Concordia metro station.

“I am from Gaza as well. Both of my grandparents’ houses, they were demolished in the past two days.”

“It’s the emotional value that’s attached to the house where both of my parents grew up. My childhood memories, it’s all been affected,” Muzaini added.

Heba Zaqout has many friends and family in Gaza and she fears for their lives.

“I came here to support at least the minimum support for the people in Gaza. To tell them they are special. They are doing what we cannot do for Palestine,” said Heba Zaqout.

“I came over here especially to give my support to my Palestinian people and to the ones, especially in Gaza. This is the minimum I could do for the Palestinian people for our family in Gaza, to stand with them and give them the support. Our hearts are with them, always.”

Rally attendees say they are demonstrating for the lives that are being lost.

 “We’re demonstrating that we are in solidarity with each other. We stand for the liberty of each and the freedom of each and the security of each. And so we consider that it’s possible for Israel to negotiate with Hamas in order to achieve a ceasefire and to stop the violence because it’s going to escalate,” said Dr. Abraham Weizfeld, the founder of Concerned Jewish Canadians.

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“I’m in contact with my Palestinian friends because I was living in Nablus, in the West Bank for many years. Often times. And they’re afraid because anything can happen now because the violence is unleashed.”