Palestinian supporters gathered at Winnipeg’s highest civic office Monday, joining an outpouring of similar rallies being held across Canada in the wake of escalating violence in the Middle East.
Peace Alliance Winnipeg organized the rally, which came in the wake of an assault launched against Israel by Hamas militants over the weekend. Scores of armed gunmen crossed the border from the Gaza Strip, killing hundreds of civilians and taking others captive.
The Israeli government declared war in response, and the region has since been engulfed in heavy bloodshed.
JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
About 150 Palestinian supporters rally outside city hall and throughout the Exchange District in Winnipeg Monday, Oct. 9, 2023.
A large crowd gathered around 2:30 p.m. at Winnipeg City Hall accompanied by dozens of Winnipeg Police Service members who controlled traffic (at times blocking multiple southbound lanes of Main Street), and prevented Palestinian supporters from crossing the street, where a handful of Israel supporters gathered for in counter-protest.
Emotions from participants on both sides ran high as they faced each other from opposing sides of the street.
“This is something that we never wanted. This is just the build-up of many years of being sanctioned in an open-air prison and the people are letting it out. Nobody wants violence, nobody wants death, but it seems like it’s happening and that is the unfortunate reality,” said Hamdallah Zeid, who joined the rally in support of the Palestinians.
Zeid said the purpose of the rally was to advocate for freedom in Gaza, where roughly 2 million people have been relegated to an impoverished strip of land near the Mediterranean Sea for decades.
“There’s people of different races, backgrounds and religions all coming together for one cause, and that is to free Palestine and give them the rights that they deserve,” he said.
Zeid noted he has friends in Gaza and family in the nearby West Bank, another Palestinian territory. He is concerned the violence will continue to escalate in the Middle East, with promises from Israeli officials to respond with the full-force of the country’s military might.
Gaza is already being targeted by Israeli air raids and subject to a blockade restricting fuel, food and supplies.
“If they do set foot into the Gaza grounds or into the West Bank grounds, its going to cause a great war that nobody really wants. At the end of the day, what Palestinian people really want is freedom.”
The Palestinian group swelled to a size of around 150 before beginning to march southbound on Main Street.
JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
While Palestinian supporters rallied outside city hall as a handful of supporters for Israel gathered across the street.
The group turned west onto McDermot Avenue to King Street, where it headed north to Rupert Avenue and back to Main — completing a circuit.
Protesters waved flags and signs, chanting “Free Palestine” and “Allahu Akbar” — which translates roughly to “God is the greatest.”
Among the chants were calls of shame against premier-designate Wab Kinew, who condemned the actions of Hamas and voiced support for Israel in a posting on X (formerly known as Twitter) on the day of the attacks.
Scores of other Canadian officials, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, issued similar condemnations.
“Canada unequivocally condemns the brutal terrorist attacks perpetrated by Hamas against Israel… we extend our deepest condolences to everyone affected – including the families of the hundreds of innocent civilians senselessly targeted,” Global Affairs Canada said in an email.
“Canada stands with Israel and fully supports Israel’s right to defend itself in accordance with international law.”
Ron East, a member of the Israeli Canadian Council who stood among the counter-protesters, described the pro-Palestinian protest as “disgusting” pointing to the horrific actions perpetrated by Hamas in the first hours of the attack.
“They’ve kidnapped the elderly, the young, children and babies, and to see this in front of us, this glorification of murder and butchery is despicable,” he said.
JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Protesters waved flags and signs, chanting “Free Palestine” and “Allahu Akbar” — which translates roughly to “God is the greatest.”
“This is the single worst event to happen to the Jewish people since the Holocaust.”
East said members of his community planned to host a vigil Monday night for the dead, injured and missing people from Israel at Chabad-Lubavitch of Winnipeg, a Jewish centre on Mathers Avenue.
Local authorities and media in the region are reporting around 900 people have been killed in Israel and more than 680 people have been killed in Gaza. Thousands of others are wounded on both sides.
The Israeli Council and Jewish Federation of Winnipeg are hosting a rally in solidarity with the Israeli community Tuesday at the Asper Jewish Community Campus (123 Doncaster St.).
Tyler Searle
Reporter
Tyler Searle is a multimedia producer who writes for the Free Press’ city desk. Since joining the paper in 2022, he has found himself driving through blizzards, documenting protests and scouring the undersides of bridges for potential stories.
