Jewish, Palestinian communities in Winnipeg worried as conflict escalates, hope for support at rallies
Death tolls in Israel, Gaza rise after Saturday morning attack by Hamas militant group
Supporters of Israelis and Palestinians in Winnipeg continue to worry for the safety of those in Israel and Gaza, as fighting between the Hamas militant group and the Israeli military has killed over a thousand people.
"My heart goes out to everyone," said Belle Jarniewski, executive director of the Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada, located in Winnipeg.
"I think of these people and how terrified they must be."
At least 700 people in Israel and more than 400 people in Gaza are reported to have been killed since Saturday, when Hamas launched a barrage of rockets out of Gaza into Israel. The Israeli government declared war following the attack, and retaliated by launching airstrikes into the territory.
Jarniewski said she's saddened by the violence and destruction, and hopes people will show their support for Israel at a rally in Winnipeg slated for Tuesday evening.
"When I see the pictures and I recognize those places, having been to many of them, it's absolute shock," she said.
The rally will be held at the Asper Jewish Community Campus on Doncaster Street Tuesday at 7 p.m., Jarniewski said, where community members can gather for prayer and a vigil.
Palestinian community rally set for Monday
Meanwhile, a rally in support of Palestinians has also been set.
Candice Bodnaruk of Peace Alliance Winnipeg said members of the Palestinian community, as well as supporting groups like Independent Jewish Voices Winnipeg, will be gathering outside Winnipeg's city hall on Monday at 2:30 p.m.
She said while the organization calls for peace and opposes the recent violence, she added that it's also important for people to understand the conflict from a Palestinian perspective.
"They're living in what's been called an open-air prison," Bodnaruk, who's helping organize the rally, said late Sunday.
"All we can do … is speak out about the importance of human rights and encourage people to support."
The leader of Hamas's military has said the assault this weekend was in response to the 16-year blockade of Gaza and Israeli raids over the past year.
While Israeli forces withdrew from Gaza in 2005, and the strip has been run by Hamas since it seized control of the territory in 2007, an independent UN Human Rights commission last year found Israel has continued to occupy Gaza by effectively controlling movement in and out of its borders and the supply of essentials like water and electricity.
WATCH | Years of oppression led to Hamas attacks, says Canadian Palestinian:
Support for Israelis
Hamas gunmen rolled into as many as 22 locations outside the Gaza Strip early Saturday morning, including towns and other communities as far as 24 kilometres from the Gaza border, and took hostages as Israel's military scrambled to muster a response, while the militant group launched thousands of rockets at Israeli cities.
On Sunday, the Israeli military said its forces were fighting Hamas incursions in eight places. An Israeli military spokesperson said two hostage situations in Gaza had been "resolved," but did not say whether all the hostages had been rescued alive.
Rena Sector Elbaze, executive director at Congregation Shaarey Zedek, a synagogue in Winnipeg, said two of her own children and her son-in-law are in Israel right now, and she's worried for their safety.
"My own daughters who are in Jerusalem are scared because my son-in-law had to go up to the front, so they're by themselves," she told CBC on Sunday.
It's times like this that Sector Elbaze said it's important for people to know they're not alone.
"It gives us moral support and emotional support. We look after the people among us who are the most vulnerable. And so there's strength in that," she said.
The community will be collecting money to go to Israelis whose homes have been destroyed, Sector Elbaze added.
WATCH | How Hamas caught Israeli defence off guard:
Bodnaruk, who has Palestinian friends and knows people who have family in Gaza, said she's worried about the people in the region.
"I feel for what's going on, and it's really hard to watch, and it's a feeling of panic and dread — dread that it's going to get a lot worse," she said.
President of the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg Gustavo Zentner said support from Manitobans, including Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham, Premier Heather Stefanson and Premier-designate Wab Kinew, has been overwhelming.
"The output contact of support is just unbelievable," he told CBC. "We're thankful for that."
I join those unequivocally condemning today’s attack on Israel. I have spoken with leaders in Winnipeg’s Jewish community to express my support. Our thoughts are especially with residents of Winnipeg’s sister city, Be’er Sheva, during this time of crisis. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Winnipeg?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Winnipeg</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Israel?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Israel</a>
—@ScottGillinghamBut for Bodnaruk, the lack of support from governments is disappointing. She said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who has said Canada stands with Israel and supports its right to defend itself, should have shown support for both sides.
"That is a really irresponsible approach," she said. "I think that he can stand up for human rights and … speak in support of both peoples in saying that he would like to see peace in the region."
Global Affairs Canada cited reports that one Canadian in the region has died and two other Canadians are missing.
With files from the Associated Press