HALIFAX – Three Halifax groups are getting ready for their second protest in support of Palestinians living in the Gaza strip.
On Tuesday, Students Against Israeli Apartheid; Canadians, Arabs, and Jews for a Just Peace; and Independent Jewish Voices will lead a rally at the Public Gardens, before marching down to the American Consulate on Upper Water Street.
Violet Rosengarten of the group Canadians, Arabs, and Jews for a Just Peace, says she felt compelled to act because of what she calls the massacre against Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip. “During these attacks I see a massacre happening, of innocent civilians, families, women and children… The Israeli assault on Gaza has become a massacre of innocent people.”
The most recent round of fighting between Israel and Hamas started just over three weeks ago. Since then the death toll in Gaza has risen steadily with officials there saying 1,110 Palestinians have been killed, and many of them were civilians. In Israel three civilians and 53 soldiers have been killed.
After a deadly 24 hours for the Israeli military in which ten soldiers were killed on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is doubling down, warning of a “prolonged campaign” against Hamas.
Local Rabbi Ari Isenberg came back from a five day trip to Israel on Sunday. After seeing the conflict first hand he says Israel is acting with the utmost care to protect civilians in the Gaza Strip. “Israel has demonstrated to the world’s armies about the most effective way to lead a high moral military campaign of defence and unfortunately they’re dealing with a terrorist organization that uses human shields, their own population, to try to ward off some of the Israeli defence tactics.”
After three weeks of bloodshed and growing appeals from the international community for a ceasefire, both Israel and Hamas are holding out for bigger gains and a truce remains elusive.
Today’s rally for Gaza will be held at the Public Gardens at 3:30 p.m., then organizers will lead the protesters in a march to the US Consulate on Upper Water Street.
– With files from the Associated Press
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