People march in solidarity with Palestine throughout downtown Red Deer on Friday, May 21, 2021. (rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

calling for change

Solidarity with Palestine shown in downtown Red Deer demonstration

May 23, 2021 | 9:15 AM

Around 100 demonstrators took to Red Deer’s downtown Friday evening to show solidarity with the people of Palestine.

An 11-day clash between Israel and Palestine ended with a ceasefire agreement Thursday, but not before more than 230 Palestinians were killed, including 65 children and 39 women, according to The Associated Press. Another 1,700+ Palestinians were wounded, while reports suggest 12 Israelis were also killed, including two children, with 300 wounded.

In Red Deer, demonstrators shouted for Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to be charged with war crimes. They also called on western nations to stop giving Israel money it spends on war weapons, and to impose harsher sanctions against the Middle Eastern country.

The Government of Canada website notes Israel is an important economic partner, with a, “full range of business possibilities including trade and investment.” Multiple reports note the U.S. gives Israel more than $3 billion annually in military aid.

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“I think they’re still alive,” says demonstration organizer and Red Deer resident Lara Alhmidat of friends back home. “It’s a relief it’s stopped because it’s caused so much anxiety for us here knowing loved ones are under fire. The internet there is trashy so you can’t keep in contact.”

Alhmidat, 26, is a second generation Jordanian whose grandparents lived in Palestine until 1948.

From 1947-1949, the Palestine War – the first modern instance of fighting between the two sides — was waged, resulting in ~20,000 casualties, and the exodus of 700,000 Palestinians from the region.

Alhmidat came to Canada in 2017, and explains this shouldn’t be called a conflict because the two sides don’t have equal resources. She believes what’s most helpful during the recent fighting is how much played out on social media.

“It’s absolutely a card that can be used against Israel, and I think it partially led to the ceasefire. People are seeing how ugly and brutal they are,” Alhmidat says. “Israel depends on showing the world how we react. This time, people started seeing live streams from Gaza, how worshippers were being attacked at Al-Aqsa, not to mention during Ramadan.

“I’m glad people got to see because we now have a movement going, which I hope continues until we get the land back. I’d really love to go see my country again.”

This clash erupted after an Israeli court ruled the state had a right to evict Palestinian people in an area of Jerusalem called Sheik Jarrah. It was enflamed too by Israel claiming it’d only allow 10,000 people to pray at Al-Aqsa, a mosque also in the highly disputed city of Jerusalem. In response to the abuses, militant organization Hamas began firing rockets into Israel.

Footage throughout the 11 days has shown buildings in Gaza being destroyed, including one housing The Associated Press and local media. Another video went viral showing a young Palestinian girl asking why kids are being targeted.

“Many of the people killed have not been Hamas as Israel claims. They’re armless civilians. Canada is, to my knowledge, the country that fights for everyone’s rights,” Alhmidat says. “We can’t stand up for Black Lives Matter without doing so for Palestine. Our federal government has stood with Israel and that’s shameful.”

In the name of a two-state solution, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called for ceasefire on May 18, with a statement issued through Global Affairs last weekend calling the violence ‘appalling’ and adding that attempted evictions by Israel violate international law.

It stated, however, that, “Canada supports Israel’s right to live in peace with its neighbours within secure boundaries and fully supports Israel’s right to assure its own security.”

Trudeau also condemned increased acts of antisemitism and Islamophobia reported domestically and abroad.

Former Prime Minister Stephen Harper famously expressed strong support for Israel during his time in office.

“I think Trudeau needs to look back. What white people did to Indigenous people here in Canada is exactly what’s happening in Palestine,” Alhmidat concluded in an interview with rdnewsNOW. “Trudeau apologized to Indigenous people, so why are we committing this mistake twice when we can stop it? They stand with Israel and I can’t find the common sense in that.”