Pro-Palestinian protest in Montreal
Posted October 22, 2023 3:53 pm.
Last Updated October 22, 2023 7:00 pm.
Pro-Palestinian supporters made their voices heard in downtown Montreal Sunday for what they called an urgent mass mobilization.
Large crowds of supporters, from student groups and pro-Palestinian organizations, came together in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
“We want justice, tell me how? End the siege on Gaza now,” marchers shouted.
The Palestinian Youth Movement, Montreal4Palestine and university students in Montreal co-organized the protest.
“Our people are still showing up, our community is more united than ever,” said Rana, a protester. “You have three-year-old kids being present to 75-year-olds being present, so you see this is a generational thing. We’re going to keep going until liberation.”
“I just feel amazing that so many people are coming out,” added protester Michael Portelli. “Especially just Montreal, many people may think they can’t do so much, but I think it’s amazing to see.”
Palestinian officials claim more than 4,600 people have been killed in Gaza in the two weeks since the Israel-Hamas war started. At least 1,400 Israelis were killed since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack.
“As Canadian citizens we have a lot of privileges, but we also have a lot of power,” said demonstrator Sarah. “The power to change the power to influence and the power to open people’s eyes.”
“The Palestinian people have the right to peace,” another protester told CityNews. “The Palestinian people have right to self-determination, the Palestinian people have the right to life.”
Aid began moving slowly into Gaza from Egypt Saturday including fuel, food and medical supplies.
That same day, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly announced an additional $50 million in funding for humanitarian assistance in the Gaza Strip and reiterated Canada’s request for aid to be allowed into the territory.
Joly and International Development Minister Ahmed Hussen are also in Cairo this weekend for what is being billed as a peace summit.
The ministers were expected to discuss efforts to help some 400 Canadians leave Gaza.
The Canadian government has helped 33 people out of the West Bank and nearly 1,600 people out of Israel since the conflict began, with a final military evacuation flight expected out of Tel Aviv on Monday.
–With files from The Canadian Press
