After weeks of pleading, open letters and protests across the country, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has issued a statement calling for a ceasefire in Palestine.
The statement was made in collaboration with the Prime Ministers from both Australia and New Zealand.
However, according to local Victorian activists who have been advocating for a permanent ceasefire since October, it fell short of their expectations.
One of many local activist groups, Victoria to Palestine, wrote in a statement to Victoria Buzz, “Today, after 67 days of bombs raining down on the Gaza Strip, after 18,412 Palestinians have been killed by Israel, Canada has finally decided to join more than 150 countries around the world in calling for a ceasefire (of sorts).”
The leaders of these three countries wrote of wanting to see a “sustainable ceasefire,” but Victoria to Palestine say they believe that the statement’s phrasing failed Palestinian victims and the atrocities they’ve endured, reaffirming Canada’s historic bias toward Israel.
“In Greater Victoria, communities have organized in the thousands in support of an end to the illegal occupation of Palestine, and support for a permanent ceasefire,” reads the statement issued by Victoria to Palestine.
“As one of the many groups who are organizing for Palestine, including faith based groups from Muslim and Jewish communities, Indigenous groups, peace activists, student groups, and community activists, our mobilization will continue until these objectives are reached.”
“We consider support for Palestine as a continuation of global and local calls for solidarity and action against colonialism, and settler violence. And we remain resolute despite the lack of support shown by elected leaders, and the threats to our safety.”
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The group noted that recently, when local MLA Rob Fleming spoke at a Hanukkah ceremony he spoke out against anti-Semitism, but has yet to condemn Islamophobia.
They continued by calling out Saanich Mayor Dean Murdock, for refusing to respond to several requests to show solidarity with Canadian-Palestinians in his constituency, following Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto’s condemnation of Islamophobic rhetoric and Israeli tactics in Gaza.
“Across Canada, reported incidents of Islamophobia have increased 1,300% (as reported by the NCCM) since the war began, and in Victoria we are facing daily acts of Islamophobia, xenophobia and other forms of hate crimes,” wrote Victoria to Palestine.
Just two weeks ago, at a downtown rally for a ceasefire in Palestine, a driver drove his car toward a peaceful protester.
Ultimately, while Prime Minister Trudeau’s joint statement was effectively a call for a ceasefire and did condemn both Hamas’ and the Israeli’s war tactics, many of those who have been advocating for peace in Palestine from Victoria were left unsatisfied.
You can find Prime Minister Trudeau’s joint statement online, here.
