More than 50 people turned up at Polson Park in Vernon Saturday to silently support Palestinians caught in the cross-hairs of the Israel-Hamas war.
The Walk of Grief for Gaza, put on by Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East, comes after multi-pronged attacks by Hamas militants on Oct. 7, which have been followed by a barrage of airstrikes by Israel on Gaza 91裸聊视频� one of two Palestinian territories. As of Oct. 19, the Israel Defense Forces put the number of Israeli casualties at more than 1,400, while the Palestinian Health Ministry says 3,785 people in Gaza have been killed, and 350,000 Gaza residents have been displaced.
Organizer Gabriel Tishenko said Saturday91裸聊视频檚 walk was about lamenting the lives lost on both sides of the conflict, coming together for a cause 91裸聊视频渢hat transcends boundaries and unites us as compassionate individuals.91裸聊视频�
The organizers said calling for a 91裸聊视频渇ree Palestine91裸聊视频� means defending the human rights of Palestinians, but does not mean supporting Hamas, who have targeted civilians in the conflict.
Tishenko, whose dad is Palestinian, said Hamas would not exist if not for the power imbalance posed by Israel, 91裸聊视频渙ne of the most powerful militaries in the world,91裸聊视频� against 91裸聊视频渁 resistance grown from civilians.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淭here is no equality between those two things.91裸聊视频�
Organizers decried the situation Palestinians in Gaza find themselves in, saying that they are living in the 91裸聊视频渨orld91裸聊视频檚 largest open-air prison.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淭oday we stand in unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people, who, according to the United Nations, are victims of war crimes amounting to crimes against humanity,91裸聊视频� Tishenko told the crowd before the march, which left Polson Park around 3:15 p.m. Oct. 21 and made its way up 30th Avenue, to the courthouse, and back again.
There were no rally cries; organizers said the many signs made for the event, as well as the Palestinian flags, would convey their message.
Another Walk of Grief for Gaza event will take place in Kelowna at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 22.
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