This is in the West Bank, which Hamas does not control and where it has barely had a presence since the PA, Israel, and the US collaborated to drive them out after they won the 2006 election.
They smashed Shireen Abu Akleh’s memorial in Jenin (West Bank) too.
Join us for the virtual rally “Defend Sarah Jama. Stop the Attack on Gaza.”
This event took place in response to the Ontario legislature censuring Ontario MPP Sarah Jama and Ontario NDP leader Marit Stiles’ decision to expel Sarah Jama from the caucus over her opposition to Israeli violence in Palestine.
SPEAKERS:
Desmond Cole, Author & activist
Judy Rebick, Author & activist
Anthony Marco, President of the Hamilton & District Labour Council
Khaled Mouammar, Former national president of the Canadian Arab Federation
Beyhan Farhadi PhD, Recently resigned President of the Scarborough-Rouge Park Riding Association, Assistant Prof. University of Toronto
Beisan Zubi, Palestinian-Canadian NDP candidate for Kitchener Centre
Anjali Appadurai, 2021 Federal NDP candidate, 2022 BC New Democratic Party leadership candidate
Laura Mae Lindo, Former MPP for Kitchener Centre and former head of the NDP Black caucus & former anti-racism critic
Rima Berns-McGown, former NDP Ontario MPP for Beaches—East York
Tom Baker, Hamilton Centre Riding Association Executive
Avreet Jagdev, Ontario New Democratic Youth Chairperson
Moderated by Bianca Mugyenyi, Director Canadian Foreign Policy Institute
For those asking about resources to learn more about Palestine, the Palestinian Feminist Collective had shared the below toolkit which I think is neat.
We call upon all our communities and co-strugglers to take immediate action: to get informed, to spread awareness, to speak out and up, to organize, mobilize, and to commit to standing on the right side of history. This toolkit is an offering and invitation to all lovers of freedom to join or deepen your engagement in the struggle for Palestinian liberation at this critical moment.
We are currently witnessing all the forces of empire mobilize against the Palestinian people, and our steadfast struggle for freedom. The genocide in the Gaza Strip is a continuation of a concerted campaign the Zionist settler colonial regime has been waging against Palestinian bodies, land, and culture for nearly a century. In just the first six days of this assault, Israeli Occupation Forces dropped more than 6,000 bombs on Palestinians in Gaza-amounting in strength to one quarter of a nuclear bomb. The relentless aerial bombardment has targeted all life, killing more than 7,000 Palestinians, including close to 3,000 children.
I’m seeing post after post about how we’ll remember the people supporting Israel now that say they were against genocide 20 years later but like here everyone is glossing over the stupid shit Mona elTahawy was saying 20 years ago.
Yesterday, Israeli occupation army bombed my house in Gaza, I hardly could know who is still alive of my family, my mother, my brother, my sister and nephew.. No electricity, no internet, no telecommuniaction network, no media coverage.. I still didn’t reach them until now.. People told me they are okay.. But I won’t believe until I hear their voices.. But when???????
The 4th day and I’m asking myself: Will I talk to my family soon? Or it will never happen?
I no longer count.. I lost the hope to contact them until this genocide may stop? In case I’ll be lucky enough to do.
the fact that the report [ file available at the bottom of this page ] listing every person who has been killed in palestine since oct 7th is over 210 pages long is fucking insane. the first of the 88 names are from one family. after that, the following 72 are from one family. one family. i am asking you from the bottom of my heart, do not become desensitized to these numbers. 7,028 killed. 2,913 of them children. thousands missing under the rubble. do not ever let these numbers be anything but shocking and disturbing to you.
The controlling shareholders of Chapters/Indigo use their profits to directly support Israeli soldiers enforcing the illegal and brutal occupation of Palestine.
Heather Reisman and Gerry Schwartz – majority owners of Chapters and Indigo bookstores – are the founders of the “Heseg Foundation for Lone Soldiers”, which provides scholarships and other financial support to soldiers in the Israeli Military on the basis of need and military “achievement”. At its peak, the foundation will distribute up to $3,000,000 annually to former “Lone Soldiers” – individuals without family in Israel who have chosen to join the Israeli military and remain in the country permanently.
Organizations across Canada are calling for a boycott of all Chapters, Indigo, Coles and Smith Books stores, and demanding an end to the financial ties between the majority owners of Chapters/Indigo and the Israeli military.
Many members of the Heseg Board of Directors are high-ranking Israeli military personnel. This includes Doron Almog, who avoided a warrant issued for his arrest on suspicion of war crimes by refusing to disembark from his plane when it landed in London last year.
Heather Reisman and Gerry Schwartz own or control over 68 percent of the shares in Indigo Books and Music Inc. which owns and operates bookstores under the names Indigo, Chapters, World’s Biggest Bookstore, SmithBooks, Coles, The Book Company or Indigospirit. Reisman is chair and CEO of Indigo Books and Music Inc.
What is the Foundation for Lone Soldiers?
Heather Reisman and Gerry Schwartz, majority owners of Chapters and Indigo bookstores, founded an organisation called the “Heseg Foundation for Lone Soldiers”. At its peak, it will distribute up to $3M per year to provide scholarships and other support to former “Lone Soldiers” in the Israeli military.
What is a “lone soldier?”
These are individuals who have no family in Israel but decide to join the Israeli military. As Israeli soldiers, they participate in a military that operates checkpoints that restrict Palestinian freedom of movement, enforces the occupation of Palestinian land, and has a documented history of human rights violations.
At any time there might be 5,000 “Lone Soldiers” in the Israeli military in all capacities including in combat units.
What is the purpose of the Heseg Foundation for Lone Soldiers?
According to their website: “Canadian couple Gerry Schwartz and Heather Reisman established HESEG to express gratitude and provide support to the thousands of Former Lone Soldiers who serve annually in the Israel Defense Forces.”
By rewarding and supporting Lone Soldiers who have served in the Israeli military, Reisman and Schwartz provide support for Israel’s military effort.
In a recent ceremony honoring a Lone Soldier killed during Israel’s attacks on Lebanon “Levine’s platoon commander handed Levine’s firearm to Canadian business duo and philanthropists Gerry Schwartz and Heather Reisman, the financial backers of the Heseg project.”
“Heseg was launched at a ceremony at the Sde Dov air base that was attended by 170 lone soldiers as well as by the IDF Chief of Staff, the Chief of the Air Force, Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz, and many other dignitaries”
Who is on the board of Heseg Foundation for Lone Soldiers?
The HESEG Lone Soldier Foundation Board of Directors is stacked with active and retired high level Israeli military personnel:
MAJ. GENERAL DORON ALMOG: avoided arrest in London in 2005 on suspicion of war crimes. “The former head of Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip said Monday he was warned by diplomats not to leave an aircraft that had landed in London after a tip-off that British police were waiting to arrest him on war crimes charges”. Almog was in charge of the Israeli military southern command when a one-ton bomb was dropped on a house in Gaza, killing 14 civilians, nine of them children.
GENERAL (RES.) YITZHAK EITAN: Currently the International Chairman of the “Association for the Wellbeing of Israel’s Soldiers” (AWIS), Chief Commander of the Israeli military in Gaza Strip and West Bank, and Head (GOC) of the IDF Central Command during the years 2000-2003.
GENERAL ELAZAR STERN: Served as Deputy Commander Of the Central Brigade in the central sector of the Israeli-Lebanese border. Commander (res.) of paratroopers brigade. Commander of the Officers’ School
SHABTAI SHAVIT: Head of Mossad (the Israeli foreign intelligence) 1989-96
LT. COLONEL MIKE HARTMAN: Head of the marksmanship and sharpshooters section of the IDF.
they deliberately targeted the family of al jazeera’s gaza bureau chief. he reported on the airstrike that killed his family without realizing they had been killed, and then found out they were dead live on air.
wael el dahdouh, like shireen abu akleh, is a voice and face familiar to many who have watched reports coming out of gaza. it has already been harrowing watching him report for eighteen days straight in the most dire circumstances, but now its like seeing a beloved uncle or father overcome by grief live on air. we keep saying “there are no words” because really how else do you describe a horror of this magnitude?
ALT
