Growing calls for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict were heard in communities across Canada Sunday, including North Bay.
Cease Fire Now! rallies urged the federal government to demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
Waving flags and carrying placards, people gathered outside Nipissing—Timiskaming MP Anthony Rota’s constituency office as part of a pan-Canadian day of action.
The goal was to encourage Rota to bring their message back to parliament.
The North Bay Peace Alliance and North Bay Labour Council joined an “ad hoc national coalition of humanitarian, civil society, faith, and labour organizations calling on their members and the wider public to join the pan-Canadian day of action.”
Brennain Lloyd a volunteer with the North Bay Peace Alliance addressed the crowd.
“The purpose of today’s rally is to bring together people in North Bay to give expression to what we so desperately want, which is a ceasefire in Gaza now. It is one of roughly 50 different events across Canada. Over 100 different organizations have endorsed a call for a ceasefire now,” explained Lloyd.
“It is two-fold really. One, is to get a clear message to the Canadian government and beyond, that this is what the people want. And two, to give us the opportunity to come together and say it to each other. This is a very heartbreaking time, the violence of October 7th by Hamas, followed by the ever-increasing violence in Gaza is heartbreaking, it is intolerable, it is illegal, and it has to stop.”
The Peace Alliance volunteer went on to explain the gathering was not a campaign rally.
“It is a rally for peace,” explained Lloyd.
“It is supporting the right of the Palestinian people to peace and security, and we would support the right of all people to that.”
The situation in Gaza has been described as a catastrophic and unprecedented humanitarian crisis.
On humanitarian grounds, the rally also pointed to the need to restore electricity, water, and communications, restore democracy to Gaza, as well as resume shipments of food, medicine, and aid.
The president of the North Bay and District Labour Council also addressed the crowd calling for the end to all hostilities.
“We are also calling for an end to the blockade of Gaza, and for the restoration of humanitarian aid and that is just a basic necessity,” said Henri Giroux. “We also call for the safe and immediate return of all hostages and civilians being held without charge.”
People attending the rally were invited to share their thoughts and concerns and explain why it was important for them to attend the rally.
“It is important because I want to stand with justice, I want to be against any kind of oppression, I want to see peace. I want to see people being human beings first of all, and neither do I want to have my kids witness this genocide. It is just incredible. It is just disheartening,” shared Ziyaad Rajabalee, adding, “We always have to stand for justice against oppression and make our voices heard. This is a very simple message from my heart. Hopefully, it will reach as many people as possible.”
Khalid Rajabalee said what he had seen and heard in the news and directly from friends was enough for him to attend the rally.
“I was born in Canada, but I did grow up in Saudi Arabia and my friends who were from Palestine, had some of the saddest stories that you could hear. Their houses were bombed as they were escaping from them. I heard some pretty scary stories from them, and I just believe that we need to show more humanity. We need to be more human these days."
As of Sunday afternoon, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has continued to reject all calls for a cease-fire.
The North Bay Peace Alliance gave those gathered Sunday afternoon some “homework” asking that they call or email members of parliament calling on them to support a ceasefire now.
Listed on a contact list given to the crowd were Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly, Nipissing—Timiskaming MP Anthony Rota, Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations Bob Rae, and the Israeli Ambassador to Canada Iddo Moed.
