Pro-Palestine rallies continue in St. John's as protestors worry conflict will continue

Supporters of Palestine gathered in downtown St. John's on Saturday to celebrate the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. 

But despite the deal, some say there's still a message to spread as violence continues in West Bank.

Fahad Kasken, who's from from northern Gaza and was living there when Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, told CBC News through a translator that he is still nervous that fighting will resume, but hopes the ceasefire is permanent.

That attack resulted in an almost immediate bombing campaign on Gaza from Israel in response. 

The war led Kasken and his brother, Talal Kasken, to travel into southern Gaza, where they shared a tent in Rafah.

Last year, his sisters Miran and Marilyn Kasken worked with lawyers and met with politicians to get their brothers to Canada.

Eventually, the brothers were able to cross into Egypt and arrived in St. John's on Dec. 15.

At the rally, Kasken said he was there for all the innocent civilians who died in what he called a genocide. 

Protesting to continue

While protesters are feeling some relief from the ceasefire deal, Alec Brookes, organizer with MUN Faculty for Palestine, said there is still grief for Palestinians in Gaza.

Protests against the ongoing violence have been happening for months in St. John's and around the world. 

Brookes said activism must continue because the military occupation of Palestine still remains and violence continues in the West Bank. 

"We feel some sense of relief, but there's a lot of concern still that brings us here," he said.

Nicholas Keough, executive director of external affairs with MUN's student union, said he was at the protest to celebrate the ceasefire. However, he said, "the fight is not over." 

"We know that the violence isn't stopped. There's still a lot of violence that's happening now in the West Bank especially, and it's not going to end until Israel ends its illegal occupation," said Keough. 

"I'm happy with any amount of violence that is reduced, but I'm not terribly hopeful."

Questions of whether or not the ceasefire will result in lasting peace still linger. 

On Saturday, U.S. President Donald Trump suggested relocating the Palestinian population in Gaza to Egypt and Jordan.

"We just clean that whole thing out," said Trump. 

Palestine Action YYT volunteer Duncan Crone doesn't trust that the Israeli government will maintain the ceasefire. 

"That's why we're still here. We're still trying to put the message out and show that we are still so passionate," said Crone. 

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