Muslims in Manitoba mark the beginning of Ramadan as war continues to rage in Gaza

Muslims in Manitoba are now fasting for Ramadan, but this year's celebrations are more difficult for many as war rages on in the Middle East.

Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, is marked by fasting from dawn to sunset, prayer, charity and togetherness. It is one of the five pillars, or fundamental practices, of Islam.

It's observed by about 25,000 Muslims in Manitoba and nearly two billion worldwide, but this year's Ramadan comes as the Middle East remains inflamed by the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.

Hakim Ghulam with the Manitoba Islamic Association says watching the war unfold overseas has been a challenging time for many in the province.

"Your heart cries, you want to help them … not only as a Muslim but as a human being as well," Ghulam told CBC News on Monday.

The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 hostage. Hamas is believed to still be holding around 100 captives.

The Israeli military campaign has driven around 80 per cent of Gaza's population of 2.3 million people from their homes and pushed hundreds of thousands to the brink of famine. Gaza's health ministry says at least 31,112 Palestinians have been killed since the war began.

Ceasefire talks to allow the holy month to pass peacefully and also possibly return dozens of Israeli hostages held in Gaza have stalled.

100s come to Grand Mosque

Ghulam says fasting during Ramadan allows Muslims to feel sympathy for people who are going hungry.

"That's the time Ramadan [teaches] you that you have to be patient, you know, you have to show empathy and compassion with the people around you."

He says hundreds come to the Winnipeg Grand Mosque — which is run by the Manitoba Islamic Association — to pray on the first day of Ramadan.

The association is also inviting non-Muslims to the Grand Mosque on Saturday to partake in a community iftar, which is when Muslims break their daily fasts during Ramadan.

"We may follow a different faith … but we have a relationship of respect, honour [and] dignity for each other," said Ghulam.

"We need to listen to each other."

Eid al-Fitr celebrations marking the end of the sacred month fall on Apr. 9 this year.

Kinew calls for Gaza ceasefire

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew says he's asking Ottawa to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza in light of Ramadan.

In question period Monday, Kinew said Israel has the right to exist, and Hamas must be destroyed, but the growing destruction and famine in civilian areas must stop.

He told the legislature the Israeli government could have targeted Hamas narrowly rather than in a way that has broadly affected civilians and supplies of food and water.

The premier says it is unfair to hold people collectively responsible for the actions of Hamas.

"I believe that Israel's initial cause for action was justified. However, in five months of seeing how the war has been waged, I don't think that we can say that it's been narrowly targeting Hamas," he told reporters at the legislature on Monday.

"This time has been very divisive and difficult to keep everyone together as Manitobans, but I believe it's possible to do so and still to ask that civilian life in Gaza be protected."

The Jewish Federation of Winnipeg continues to speak with the Manitoba government about the conflict, it said in a Monday statement to CBC News. The federation asserts that the war would be over if Hamas released the hostages and stopped fighting.

Wayne Ewasko, interim leader of the Manitoba Progressive Conservative party, says the party put forth an amendment to a motion the NDP introduced on Monday which immediately calls for a ceasefire in Gaza.

The PC's amendment instead asked the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba to encourage negotiations for a ceasefire. It was voted down by the NDP, Ewasko said in a statement to CBC News. 

Last December, Canada voted in favour of a non-binding United Nations resolution that called for an "immediate humanitarian ceasefire" in the Israel-Hamas war. Canada has provided $100 million in aid for Gaza since Oct. 7.

Funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees was suspended in January, after Israel alleged 12 employees of the aid agency were involved in some capacity in the Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

CBC News reported Tuesday that the federal government intended to resume funding after Ottawa received an interim report from the United Nations investigation of Israel's allegations.