By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
A group of nearly 40 Sherbrooke residents, led by organizer Mohamed Soulami, protested for peace in Gaza at Sherbrooke’s City Council meeting Nov. 21. Calling themselves “a group of Sherbrooke citizens for a better world, a peaceful world”, the group submitted a letter to Sherbrooke’s mayor Nov. 7 demanding, among other things, an immediate ceasefire in the embattled region. The City of Sherbrooke responded with a resolution detailing its solidarity with the group.
The letter
The letter, addressed to Raïs Kibonge, Acting Mayor of Sherbrooke, and the city council members, emphasizes the importance of treating all human lives equally and respecting human rights. The letter criticizes several governments for ignoring global organizations’ alerts about ongoing injustices, specifically highlighting the “ethnic cleansing” and “war crimes” in Gaza, Palestine. The authors express disappointment that Quebec and Canada, typically known for peaceful interventions, are perceived to be applying double standards to the situation.
The group makes specific demands:
1) Immediate ceasefire and lifting of the blockade in Gaza.
2) Delivery of humanitarian aid, including energy for hospitals and essential needs for civilians.
3) Rehabilitation of social services, including hospitals and schools, and providing safe places for civilians.
4) Condemnation of the ongoing war crimes against humanity.
They urge their elected officials to denounce the “genocide” in Gaza, where a significant number of victims are children and women, and to encourage the federal and provincial governments to respect human rights in Gaza and contribute to humanitarian aid efforts.
The letter concludes with an appeal to the city council to adopt a resolution reflecting these concerns and to join a global call for a just and better world. The authors express their belief in shared values of justice and equality and hope for a positive response to their requests.
The resolution
Sherbrooke’s City Council professed their solidarity with the victims of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in a Nov. 21 resolution:
“The city council has adopted a resolution of solidarity with the victims of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, calling for the respect of human dignity and demanding the safe passage of widespread humanitarian aid and respect for the Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law.”
“The council also invites the federal and provincial governments as well as other municipalities to adopt a resolution that calls for the defense of human rights, the protection of civilians, and the creation of a climate conducive to establishing lasting peace in the Middle East.”
“A ceasefire is more than necessary to make way for peace between Israel and Palestine. I join my voice with that of the members of the City Council to also ask the Canadian government to use all its resources to achieve this. The incessant cycle of violence must end quickly,” stated Kibonge.
Mohamed Soulami
“Unfortunately, we are seeing in Gaza more and more massacres,” said Soulami in an interview after the event. The victims include civilians, women, children, and the sick, he added; hospitals and schools are being bombed, and many journalists have been killed. The humanitarian crisis is evident and they will continue to mobilize to demand for a ceasefire in the region to establish a lasting peace.
The City of Sherbrooke is a “city of peace”, he went on, part of 10,000 other cities that are committed to peace and human rights. It was important for their group to “hear the voice” of Sherbrooke in their resolution of solidarity. They wish to influence Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to adopt the same position.
Three Canadian federal political parties, and three provincial, are also committed to a ceasefire, Soulami explained, joining Sherbrooke and over 100 other Canadian cities. Many humanitarian organizations, churches, and Jewish and Muslim organizations agree. “It is important that we join our voices together so that this massacre stops.”