A group of concerned individuals and organizations is holding another weekly vigil for Palestine in front of Peterborough’s City Hall on Monday afternoon (January 15).
Calling themselves Nogojiwanong Palestine Solidarity, the group is demanding an immediate ceasefire and lifting of the siege on Gaza to allow for immediate aid, and “an end to Canada’s complicity in Israel’s war crimes, genocidal attacks on Gaza, and colonization of Palestinian land.”
“We join the thousands who have been in the streets across the world to express solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza who are facing the worst bombardment seen this century,” reads a media release. “We are outraged by this violence and condemn the Israeli apartheid state that is currently doubling down on collective punishment of the Palestinians and tightening its nearly 17-year siege of Gaza.”
“This includes the prevention of any electricity, food, water and fuel from entering Gaza — putting all lives at risk of disease and starvation while the bombing continues. In addition to physical violence and attacks, we have witnessed the racist denigration of Palestinians as ‘barbaric’ and ‘human animals’ (in the words of Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant).”
Nogojiwanong Palestine Solidarity is also calling for “the safe release of all hostages currently held by Hamas and Israel.”
The group says it will continue to gather in front of Peterborough City Hall every Monday from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. until there is a permanent ceasefire, calling on Peterborough Mayor Jeff Leal and Peterborough City Council to join other municipal politicians who have urged the Canadian government to support a permanent ceasefire.
More information about Nogojiwanong Palestine Solidarity, including links to various campaigns and other resources, is available at linktr.ee/nogojiwanong2palestine. The group also has an Instagram account at @nogojiwanong2palestine.
On Saturday, tens of thousands of people gathered in capitals around the world, including in Washington DC and London England, in a global day of action calling for an immediate permanent ceasefire in Gaza. Sunday marks 100 days since October 7, when hundreds of Hamas gunmen infiltrated southern Israeli communities from Gaza, killing around 1,300 people and taking around 240 others hostage, most of whom were civilians.
Israel responded by unleashing weeks of devastating air strikes on Gaza followed by a ground force invasion, both of which have displaced an estimated 1.3 million people. The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry estimates the Israeli military action has killed almost 24,000 Palestinians and wounded 60,000 others, mostly civilians including women and children. Earlier this week, South Africa accused Israel of genocide in a case brought to the International Court of Justice. Israel has disputed the accusation.
