To commemorate the ceasefire between Israel and Palestine, the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM) organized a rally at the Kitchener City Hall on Jan. 17 to encourage Kitchener-Waterloo residents to support Palestine.
On Jan. 15, Israel and Palestine announced a ceasefire after 15 months of war. The ceasefire deal started four days after its announcement on Jan. 19, after months of negotiations led by the US, Qatar and Egypt. The ceasefire aims to bring a permanent end to the fighting and the release of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel and hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. The ceasefire brought relief to organizations such as Hillel Ontario.
“The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, specifically the hostage deal, made me feel hopeful. I hope that the war will end, and that Israelis and Palestinians will be able to begin to rebuild after this period of pain and turmoil,” said Alexis Salem, VP of advocacy for Hillel Waterloo and Laurier.
“I feel emotional when I think of all those who have been held captive by Hamas since October 7, 2023, as I cannot imagine the horrors they’ve faced—those who are able to return home to their families, and those who will never return,” they said.
For organizations like the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM), the ceasefire is not the end of their advocacy for Palestinians. Nancy Yasmin, an event organizer with the PYM, said the focus of the rally was to stop weapon trade between Canada and Israel.
“We feel relief for the people of Gaza who remained steadfast on our land,” Yasmin said. “The ceasefire came 15 months too late, and the purpose of this rally was to recommit ourselves to the struggle of liberation for Palestine.”
Yasmin said that despite the enacted ceasefire, over a million Gazans still live in temporary accommodations such as makeshift tents, hospitals and schools. There are also reports that the blockade of the Gaza Strip is still in effect, but after the ceasefire there is some easing of restrictions allowing limited movement and aid delivery.
However, the blockade has not been completely lifted. Seeing this, Yasmin said that the call to support Palestine is not over.
“We believe that it is our responsibility as Canadians to hold our governments and officials accountable for aiding and abetting the genocide,” Yasmin said. She explained that the PYM called for Kitchener-Waterloo residents to support them as the organization wants to hold every Canadian official accountable for refusing to call for a ceasefire until this day, such as Waterloo’s Member of Parliament (MP) Bardish Chagger.
“We will continue to uphold the ruling of the International Criminal Court and push our governments to adopt a people’s arms embargo,” Yasmin said. “One of our demands beyond the ceasefire is a people’s arms embargo, which is an enforced two-way arms embargo to seize the sale and the trade of weapons with the Israeli occupation entity.”
Laura Reid, a member of Neighbours for Palestine: Waterloo Region, said that Canada continues to export weapons, components and military technology to Israel. She also explained that six companies in the Waterloo Region, such as Magellan Aerospace make weapons components for the F-35 fighter jets used to bomb Gaza.
“A full arms embargo on Israel is as important as ever,” Reid said. “There is a window of opportunity right now when international pressure could have a significant impact to save the lives of Palestinians and ensure they receive a steady flow of aid.”
Reid also said Green Party MP for Kitchener Mike Morrice regularly speaks against genocide and listens to his constituents. Morrice has advocated for an end to Canada’s weapons trade with Israel on Dec. 3, in a chamber intervention.
Additionally, Liberal MP for Kitchener Tim Louis after pressure from Neighbours for Palestine and other organizations, has signed on to support a full arms embargo on Israel.
“Our government only acts when we force them to listen,” Reid said. “Silence is not an option, and only those who stand with Palestine deserve our votes.”
Photo by Sangjun Han.
