Some lost their entire family. Others are unable to contact their loved ones. On Saturday, hundreds of crying and angry demonstrators gathered in downtown Montreal to protest against Israeli strikes which left a considerable number of dead in a few days in Lebanon.
Some 700 demonstrators, according to estimates by the authorities on site, gathered in front of the American consulate around 2 p.m.
“My husband lost his whole family in Lebanon, everyone,” revealed protester Rana Hatie, who also lost cousins in the Middle East due to the conflict in Gaza. “I stopped counting them. »
PHOTO MEGAN FOY, THE PRESS
Rana Hatie, a pro-Palestinian protester, lost several family members due to the conflict in Gaza.
Like several people there, Mme Hatie has participated in all the demonstrations in support of Palestine for almost a year.
There, dozens of war-worn protesters cried and hugged each other, worried about the fate of their loved ones.
“All communications are cut with Lebanon,” said one of the demonstrators at the head of the group, who has no idea if his loved ones are safe there.
On September 23 and 24, Israeli strikes targeting Hezbollah left at least 569 people dead, including 50 children. The powerful Beirut-based group was born in 1982, in response to the Israeli invasion of Lebanon. In Canada, it is considered a terrorist group.
“Beirut, Beirut, we are here, we will not let you die,” chanted the demonstrators at the corner of Peel and Sainte-Catherine streets, who waved flags of both Palestine and Lebanon.
After crossing Sainte-Catherine Street West, the demonstration concluded in front of the Israeli consulate, shortly after 5 p.m.
Grief and worry
Mirna, a protester from Lebanon, has only been living in Quebec for a month. Silent, she clutched a photo of her four cousins and one uncle, all of whom were killed in recent Israeli strikes. She preferred not to mention her last name, fearing an additional threat to her safety and that of her family.
PHOTO MEGAN FOY, THE PRESS
Mirna denounces the death of five of her relatives in Lebanon, during the demonstration.
“One of them was supposed to get married on October 18,” Mirna shared with emotion.
Ingrid, Yasmina and Maya all live in Montreal. During the demonstration, the three young women, who did not want to reveal their full names out of fear for their families in Lebanon, raised funds which they sent directly to Lebanese families.
PHOTO JOSIE DESMARAIS, THE PRESS
Demonstrators, Ingrid, Yasmina and Maya, encouraged participants to make donations to support the Lebanese.
“Our parents are safe, but they live near a place where there were bombings this week,” said Ingrid.
On Friday, 6 people were killed and 91 were injured in new Israeli strikes in Lebanon, which also razed 6 apartment buildings.
Hezbollah leader dies
On Saturday morning, Hezbollah confirmed the death of its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed the day before by the Israeli army near Beirut. His death only increased tensions on the Israeli-Lebanese border.
“Today we lost an important figure in the liberation of the Palestinians,” declared one of the organizers of the demonstration, in a speech given before moving through the streets of Montreal. “A man dies, his ideas remain”, could we read on numerous signs bearing the image of Hassan Nasrallah, held at arm’s length by several demonstrators on Saturday.
Israel’s chief of staff said Saturday that the elimination of Nasrallah was “not the end of his toolbox,” indicating that more strikes were planned. He said the strike targeting Hezbollah leaders was the result of a long period of preparation.
October 7 will mark the first anniversary of the conflict in Gaza and the deadly attacks perpetrated by Hamas in Israel.
With Agence France-Presse