'Everyone is broken': Supporters of Israel rally in Winnipeg on Tuesday

Thousands gathered outside the Asper Jewish Community Campus on Tuesday night for a rally in solidarity with Israel and its people, giving Winnipeg's Jewish community an opportunity to stand with those directly affected by the violence.

More than 2,000 people were at the rally, police said.

The four-day-old conflict between Israel and Hamas has claimed nearly 2,000 lives in total, authorities on both sides say.

"I'm sure everyone's affected in their own way, all for the negative," said Robyn Shapiro, who was at Tuesday's rally. "The posts that I've been seeing on Facebook [and] Instagram, everyone is broken, including myself.

"We just feel that … Hamas has taken down our morale, but I know that we can rise above it." 

Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip launched surprise attacks in Israel Saturday morning, crossing into Israeli towns and firing a barrage of rockets. Israel responded by launching airstrikes in Gaza.

The Israeli military has said more than 1,000 people have been killed in Israel, while at least 900 people have been killed in the West Bank and Gaza, the Ministry of Health in Gaza said Tuesday. Thousands have also been wounded on both sides. 

Principal, students from Israeli school in Winnipeg 

A contingent of students from Danciger High School in Israel along with their principal, Ofer Zafrni, were among the sea of people at Tuesday's rally. Danciger is the sister school of the Gray Academy of Jewish Education in Winnipeg, and the delegation from Israel arrived in the city last Wednesday as part of the "Partnership 2Gether" program. 

"For the last 26 years, this is one of the powerful [experiences] that our students [have], but this year, something else happened," he said in an address during the rally.

"I think for the first time, we feel why it is so important to [strengthen] this connection." 

Zafrni said being together at Tuesday's rally gives people power and strength during what he called a "nightmare we are having." 

"Since I was born, I never thought that we'll be in this situation," he said. "I would like to say thank you, from the bottom of my heart, on behalf of all the Israelis that are here and not here, for the power that you are giving us, to hear you, standing here giving us the hope that better days will come."

Stefanson, Kinew condemn Hamas 

Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson and Premier-designate Wab Kinew were among a handful of political leaders in attendance at the rally who condemned Hamas.

Stefanson also acknowledged Vivian Silver, a Jewish humanitarian originally from Winnipeg whose son fears she was taken hostage by Hamas in Israel, during a speech Tuesday night.

"We recognize the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people and affirm our support for justice and freedom for both Israelis and Palestinians," she said. "However, there must be no mistake, Hamas does not represent these aspirations." 

Kinew added in his speech Tuesday that he didn't want to see any civilians harmed on either side. 

"Israel has a right to exist and that is not negotiable," he said. "I condemn Hamas's acts of terrorism. I do not want to see any civilians, Palestinian or Israeli harmed, so I hope that every step possible is taken to protect civilian lives." 

Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham told the crowd that the Esplanade Riel and the Winnipeg sign at The Forks have been lit in blue and white to honour Israel.

Israel has said that Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza are holding more than 150 soldiers and civilians taken from inside Israel.

On Tuesday, Israeli warplanes pounded the Gaza Strip, destroying buildings and sending people scrambling for safety in the sealed-off territory, which is suffering retaliation for the deadly weekend attack by Hamas militants. 

The strikes came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed retaliation against Hamas that would "reverberate for generations."

Across Canada, pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel rallies have been held as the war continues. In Winnipeg, a rally in support of Palestinians was held outside Winnipeg city hall on Monday afternoon.

Shapiro said she has friends in Israel whom she's been in contact with and are "far enough that they are safe," but said the "things that they're seeing and hearing is just horrible." 

"Hopefully this war will end peacefully," she said.