
Despite a rainfall warning, thousands of adamant protesters assembled in the heart of Montreal on a recent Sunday, expressing their solidarity for the Palestinians caught in the midst of the escalating Israel-Hamas conflict.
With the imminent dread of a prospective ground assault, the war had already gone past its second week. Israeli jets were relentlessly attacking various targets throughout Gaza and an alleged militant-utilized mosque in the occupied West Bank.
The demonstration was an initiative of the Palestinian Youth Movement, Montreal4Palestine, and various university student groups across the city. Around the middle of the afternoon, an ocean of individuals took over Dorchester Square, brandishing high the Palestinian flags under the vigilant gaze of city law enforcement.
These organizations have demanded an immediate cessation to the bombing of Palestinian civilians and, as stated in an official release, a halt to “Canada’s complicity in Israel’s horrific war crimes”.
Among the sea of participating individuals was Dima Beyrouti, a Lebanese-Canadian. As she waved a Palestinian flag in the air, she expressed her concerns and feelings of helplessness. She seeks to support the Palestinians who are victims of the violence in Gaza through one of the absolute few avenues available to those not present there, to let them know that they are in the thoughts and concerns of those gathered there.
With the war showing no signs of stopping, her concerns also extend to her own immediate family residing back in Lebanon. The Canadian government has been urging its nationals to evacuate Lebanon in anticipation of possible retaliations, and the resulting spread of tensions to neighboring countries.
Beyrouti shared her concerns over the safety and security of her family and everyone in her homeland, stating that amidst the fear and worry, there exists a collective yearning for peace and the reclaiming of their home from the clutches of this conflict.
The death tolls are staggering. Over 1,400 lives have been claimed in Israel, majorly casualties of the initial onslaught on October 7 by Hamas, an organization Canada recognizes as terrorist. The conflict in Gaza has taken more than 4,600 lives according to sources from the Health Ministry run by Hamas. 212 individuals have been forcefully taken to Gaza with two Americans among those released recently.
Despite the chilling statistics, Nanee Tcheurekjian braved the rain in Montreal to lend her support to the Palestinians. Being of Armenian descent, she is very familiar with the concept of genocide. She expresses her frustration over the global lack of decisive action despite the escalating death toll, and emphasizes the fundamental rights of individuals regardless of ethnic or racial lineage.
The protest continued well into the afternoon as the march made its way to the Israeli consulate in Westmount, intending to deliver their resounding message of peace and justice.