Home News Canada Palestinian solidarity march held in Windsor urges ceasefire

Palestinian solidarity march held in Windsor urges ceasefire

04.03.2024

A pro-Palestinian group in Windsor gathered Saturday afternoon calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, a message supporters have echoed since the outset of the conflict five months ago.

According to the latest figures reported by the United Nations, 30,000 Palestinians have died so far — a number approaching the total population of Lakeshore.

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Around 100 supporters waving Palestinian flags and signs assembled in front of the former Silver City building before embarking on a solidarity march down Walker Road, to Division Road and back, in support of Palestinians in Gaza.

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“I keep saying this nonstop, if they haven’t gotten tired of killing the innocent , we will not allow ourselves to get tired of speaking for the innocent,” said Rasha Zaid, co-founder of Windsor4Palestine, the organizer of the demonstration.

Zaid said the group has held a demonstration every week since the conflict began.

Israel began its strikes against Gaza after Hamas launched an attack on Oct. 7 killing 1,400 Israelis and taking 240 hostage.

Rasha Zaid, co-founder of Windsor4Palestine, addresses a crowd of roughly 100 supporters who assembled in front of the former Silver City building on Walker Road on Saturday, March 2, 2024. To the left of Zaid stands a cardboard cutout depicting Aaron Bushnell, a United States Air Force serviceman who died from self-immolation, protesting against complicity in genocide. The cutout was signed by every attendee. Photo by Madeline Mazak /win

Roughly 1.7 million Palestinians are presently displaced within Gaza, while 2.2 million people are experiencing some degree of food insecurity, in a total population of 2.3 million.

“What these people are enduring is unjustified,” said Zaid.

In January last year, South Africa asked the International Court of Justice to consider whether Israel was committing acts of genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza.

The International Court of Justice mandated the Israeli government to take measures to prevent genocidal acts, yet Human Rights Watch recently issued a statement that Israel has failed to comply with any of the provisions.

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In January, the Canadian government allocated another $40 million in aid to Gaza, topping up the total commitment to $100 million since the conflict began.

However, Zaid said she feels the Canadian government has failed to adopt a firm position urging for a ceasefire in Gaza.

During the demonstration, Zaid urged supporters to contact the Ministry of Education calling for the incorporation of Palestinian topics into the existing curriculum.

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