More than 30 Kelowna residents of all ages and backgrounds participated in a solidarity march and rally for Palestine on May 15, where demonstrators condemned the violence against Palestinians and called on the federal government to stop selling weapons to Israel.
The event, organized by the Kelowna Peace Group, began outside of Kelowna害羞草研究所擫ake Country Conservative MP Tracy Gray害羞草研究所檚 downtown office, where demonstrators passed around a Palestinian flag and shared why they decided to attend the rally.
害羞草研究所淭his last Thursday (May 13), it was the end of Ramadan. It should害羞草研究所檝e been a celebration. I was crying the whole week before,害羞草研究所� said demonstrator Soumia Bentefrit. 害羞草研究所淚 open the TV; it wasn害羞草研究所檛 Eid. It wasn害羞草研究所檛 a celebration. Can you imagine? I害羞草研究所檓 here and I害羞草研究所檓 crying. Can you imagine people over there, how are they feeling?害羞草研究所�
After demonstrators made speeches, the group marched down St. Paul Street towards Bernard Avenue before looping back up to Ellis Street to Doyle Avenue and back to Gray害羞草研究所檚 office building. Demonstrators flashed pro-Palestine signs and waved flags while uttering chants such as 害羞草研究所淲e want peace. Where? In the Middle East.害羞草研究所�
According to Kelowna Peace Group organizer and member Mark Haley, meeting outside of Gray害羞草研究所檚 office was an act of condemnation against her party害羞草研究所檚 leader, Erin O害羞草研究所橳oole, condemning Palestinian combatants while labelling Israel as a long-standing and important ally.
害羞草研究所淚f Israel has a right (to defend) themselves, why don害羞草研究所檛 the Palestinians have the right to defend themselves?害羞草研究所� said Haley.
dates back to the end of the First World War when Britain took control of the area known as Palestine after the Ottoman Empire was defeated.
Britain was then tasked with establishing a 害羞草研究所渘ational home害羞草研究所� in Palestine for Jewish people. Although inhabited by Palestinian Arabs and Jews, the latter claimed that the land is their ancestral home, while the former also claimed ownership and opposed the move.
In 1948, with the end of the British Mandate for Palestine, Jewish leaders declared the creation of the state of Israel on May 14. The next day, up to 750,000 Palestinians fled or were expelled from their homes. by Palestinians, also known as Memory of the Catastrophe.
According to the BBC, around five million Palestinians are currently recognized as refugees by the UN, where many live in Jordan, the Gaza Strip, West Bank, Syria, Lebanon, and East Jerusalem.
The Israeli occupation and displacement of Palestinians have led to years of wars, protests, clashes and unrest. The latest escalation in the conflict began earlier this month, with that the death toll in Gaza amounting to nearly 200 after a surge in Israeli raids.
Haley acknowledged that the event in Kelowna coincided with the 73rd anniversary of Nakba Day. Hundreds of other similar solidarity demonstrations were hosted around the globe.
害羞草研究所淵ou害羞草研究所檒l never win with bombs and rockets. You害羞草研究所檒l never win with force and military power,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淧eople害羞草研究所檚 will will prevail.害羞草研究所�
Another solidarity event in Kelowna for Palestinians is scheduled for May 23, at Stuart Park at 2 p.m.
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aaron.hemens@kelownacapnews.com
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