Saskatonians hold rally for Gaza peace

Israel’s latest military action in Gaza has members of Saskatoon’s Palestinian and Jewish communities worried about the safety of those involved and hoping for a peaceful resolution that has eluded the two sides for decades.

On July 8, Israel started launching air strikes on Gaza in response to rocket fire from Islamic militant group Hamas. The London’s Telegraph newspaper reports that almost 1,200 rockets have been launched at Israel.

After a failed ceasefire on July 15, Israeli forces commenced a ground assault on July 16. Since July 8 more than 260 Palestinians have been killed and many more injured, according to the Telegraph. The UN says most of the casualties have been civilians.

More than 100 people gathered at city hall in Saskatoon Saturday for a pro-Palestine rally.

“We want to show our disagreement with what’s going on in Gaza. People are suffering and being killed every day,” said Ash Bakari, a Palestianian-Jordanian-Canadian who has family in Gaza. He said that he has been communicating with them periodically, and thanked God that none of them have been hurt.

A lot of the focus at the rally was on the Canadian federal government’s pro-Israel stance.

“CERTAINLY IT’S FRONT AND CENTRE. WE’RE ALL VERY WORRIED. I THINK THE CIVILIANS ON BOTH SIDES JUST WANT PEACE” LINDA EPSTEIN

“I’d like to see them looking equally at the situation, and be fair, and help the Israelis and Palestinians come to peace, rather than standing on one side. We want peace. To have peace, you have to treat people equally,” Bakari said.

Linda Epstein, second vice president of Saskatoon’s Jewish Congregation Shir Chadash, said that Gaza was on everyone’s minds as they gathered for the Sabbath Saturday.

“Certainly it’s front and centre. We’re all very worried.” she said.

“Emotionally, all of us ache for every single life that is put in danger.”

She defended Israel’s right to exist, and to defend its people from Hamas rockets, but expressed sympathy for civilians caught in the crossfire.

“I think the civilians on both sides just want peace,” Epstein said.

“I think the time has actually come to sit down and actually talk peace. The problem is that you can’t do it when there are rockets raining down.”

LIAM RICHARDS/THE StarPhoenix Speakers address the crowd of supporters during a Palestinian rally at city hall in Saskatoon, Saturday.

LIAM RICHARDS/THE StarPhoenix Ash Bakari addresses the crowd of supporters during a pro-Palestinian rally at city hall in Saskatoon, Saturday. Bakari, who has family in Gaza, called for equality and peace.