Several thousand people demonstrated their support for the Palestinian people on Sunday afternoon in downtown Montreal, at a time when the city is seeing growing tensions linked to the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The demonstration, under the theme “All together for Gaza”, kicked off at 2 p.m. at Dorchester Square. Many of them braved the cold to demand an immediate ceasefire.
“I support the Palestinians and I want an end to the occupation. I came to demonstrate last week and I will come back until we have a ceasefire,” said Ibrahim Alsahary. He deplores that the Canadian government supports Israel.
“Israel is very useful for Canada and the same is true for the United States. Canada protects its interests,” he believes.
PHOTO JOSIE DESMARAIS, THE PRESS
“We want peace”
The delegation began to move on René-Lévesque Boulevard around 3:20 p.m. “Solidarity with Palestine,” the demonstrators chanted. They continued their march on Sainte-Catherine Street, before ending their journey at the Consulate General of Israel around 5 p.m.
“There are thousands of people dying every day. They have no water and electricity. It’s genocide,” said Sabrina, a protester. She is sorry for Canada’s reaction.
Justin Trudeau is not capable of saying the word “ceasefire”. That’s all we ask.
Sabrina
Many police officers and the cavalry of the Montreal City Police Service (SPVM) accompanied the march.
“This is not a situation of Jews versus Muslims. Lots of Jews are with us and we are with the Jews who were affected. What we want is to put pressure on the government so that it calls for a ceasefire. We want peace,” says Rania Krim.