Toronto mass rally supports Palestinian struggle

More than 10,000 people rallied at city hall in Toronto calling for an end to Israeli attacks on Palestinians. 

 

Organized by the Palestinian Youth Movement, the rally filled Nathan Phillips square and spilled into the streets shutting down a large section of the downtown area. 

 

The event was part of a global day of action to commemorate the Nakba (catastrophe) when more than 750,000 Palestinians were forcibly removed from their homes after Israel was declared a state in 1948. There were demonstrations all over the world. More than 100,000 marched in London UK and tens of thousands marched everywhere from Baghdad to Sydney to New York. It was one of the largest global days of solidarity with Palestinaians in history. 

 

There were also demonstrations across Canada. More than 5000 marched in Vancouver and at least as many were out in Montreal. There were also rallies in Edmonton, Ottawa, Hamilton, Regina, Kingston and a number of other cities.

 

All this follows a huge increase in Israeli aggression against Palestinians over the past weeks. The forced eviction of Palestinian families from their homes in Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood in East Jerusalem and the attacks on worshipers at Al-Aqsa mosque have sparked more resistance from Palestinians. Human rights groups around the world have condemned Israeli aggression and the apartheid system that they have built. 

 

There will be more solidarity events over the next weeks. Israel must not be allowed to continue with their brutality towards the Palestinian people.