Several thousand people demonstrated their support for the Palestinian people in downtown Montreal on Sunday afternoon, at a time when the city is experiencing rising tensions related to the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Posted at 3:35 p.m.
The demonstration, themed “All together for Gaza,” began at 2 p.m. in Dorchester Square. Many of them braved the cold and called for an immediate ceasefire.
“I support the Palestinians and want an end to the occupation. I came to demonstrate last week and I will come back until we have a ceasefire,” said Ibrahim Alsahary. He regrets that the Canadian government supports Israel.
“Israel is very useful to Canada and the same is true for the United States. Canada protects its interests,” he believes.
At around 3:20 p.m. the delegation began moving along René-Lévesque Boulevard. “Solidarity with Palestine,” the demonstrators shouted.
Many police officers and the Montreal City Police Service (SPVM) cavalry accompanied the march. “This is not a situation of Jews versus Muslims. Many Jews are with us and we are with the Jews affected. We want to put pressure on the government to demand a ceasefire. We want peace,” says Rania Krim.