Winnipeg Jewish community, supporters of Israel pack gymnasium for Saturday night gathering

Members of Winnipeg's Jewish community and supporters of Israel showed up in droves for a gathering Saturday night at the Asper Jewish Community Campus.

The gymnasium in the building was packed — an announcement was made that more people than expected showed up — as  the sounds of anthems, prayers and song filled the gym. Speeches were made calling for the release of all hostages taken by Hamas and allied groups more than a month ago.

"To see this many people giving up their Saturday night just to show support for the people who are suffering is incredible," said  Avrom Charach, the president of Congregation Etz Chayim.

Saturday's event came amid a ceasefire of at least four days between Israel and Hamas. It's the first break in the violence since Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7. 

Hamas and allied groups killed more than 1,000 people and took more than 200 hostages during the attack. 

In response, Israel has vowed to destroy the Hamas militants who run Gaza, raining bombs and shells on the enclave and launching a ground offensive in the north. To date, an estimated 14,800 people — roughly 40 per cent of them children — have been killed in the onslaught, Palestinian health authorities said Saturday.

Members of Winnipeg's Palestinian community and supporters of Palestine rallied earlier in the day outside at the Manitoba Legislature. 

Hamas released 13 Israelis and four foreigners Saturday in the second round of swaps under the temporary truce, the Israeli military said. Hamas initially delayed the exchange for several hours and claimed Israel had violated the terms of the agreement. 

But Egypt, Qatar and Hamas itself later said obstacles had been overcome, and Hamas listed six women and 33 teenage boys it said were expected to be released by the Israelis. Israel later released the 39 Palestinian prisoners to East Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank as part of the swap that ultimately went through after international mediation efforts. 

A total of 50 hostages are to be exchanged for 150 Palestinian prisoners over four days under the truce. Jewish Federation of Winnipeg president Gustavo Zentner said the community is happy for those hostages being released, praying for those who are still being held captive and not forgetting about those who were killed.  

"It's very difficult to manage emotions right now, but who wouldn't in the right mindset celebrate the safe return of one individual," said Jewish Federation of Winnipeg president Gustavo Zentner. "In the Jewish world … we say when you save one life it's almost as if you save the entire humanity and that's what drives us forward." 

Jewish Federation president visited Israel 

Zentner was recently part of what he called parliamentary solidarity mission to Israel. The delegation consisted of about 60 people including five MPs — two Liberals and three Conservatives as well as other Canadian Jewish leaders. 

"We saw an Israel that is completely different from what it was before Oct. 7," he said. "I have to share that the mood in Israel is pretty solemn and heavy." 

Zentner and the delegation spent three full days on the ground and part of the trip included visiting Kfar Aza, a kibbutz near the Gaza border that saw members killed Oct. 7 by Hamas. 

"We saw rooms full of holes from floor, to roof, to ceiling, to walls that were destroyed, no glass on the windows, only on the floor," he said. "We saw blood stains, we saw stains of fire and I have to tell you for civilians like myself, we will not ever, ever experience the smell of flesh burnt." 

"After 45 or 46 days you can smell [it] in the air and that will strike you right in the middle of your soul." 

Charach also said he hoped Saturday's event was meaningful for community members and supporters.

"As all of our events are, we're gonna remember what's going on, send hope to the people who are suffering, on both sides of the border, and go home feeling a little less worried than when we walked in the door."