Several thousand people showed their support for the Palestinian people in downtown Montreal on Sunday afternoon, as the city sees rising tensions linked to the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The demonstration, under the theme “Unite for Gaza”, started at 2pm in 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 be back until there is a ceasefire,” said Ibrahim Alzahari. He lamented 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.
The delegation began marching down René-Lévesque Boulevard around 3:20 p.m., with demonstrators chanting “Solidarity with Palestine.”
Several police officers and cavalry of the Montreal City Police Service (SPVM) accompanied the march. “It is not a case of Jews and Muslims. A large number of Jews are with us, and we are with the victimized Jews. What we want is to demand a ceasefire and put pressure on the government. We want peace,” says Rania Kriem.
