Vancouver Palestinian activists and allies gathered in Vancouver Wednesday, May 7 to promote a week of activities related to the Nakba (catastrophe). The Nakba is the annual commemoration on May 15 of the ongoing expulsion of Palestinians from their traditional lands.
Recognized by the UN general assembly as a way to “highlight that the noble goals of justice and peace require recognizing the reality and history of the Palestinian people’s plight and ensuring the fulfillment of their inalienable rights,” this year will be the 77th anniversary of Nakba.
The anniversary comes as Israeli forces intensify their indiscriminate bombing and blockade of humanitarian relief for Gaza. Recently announced plans for Israel to seize Gaza and put it under military control have caused great concern.
Indigenous hip-hop musician Dakota Bear told the gathering that he stood in solidarity with Palestinians in the face of these attacks: “As Indigenous people, we’ve seen war crimes and crimes against humanity – we also know the power of standing together.”
A popular artist with a following of 40,000 on Facebook, he is the founder of Decolonial Clothing and offered his storefront on the edge of Chinatown for the media event.
Dakota Bear will perform in a special Mother’s Day for Gaza concert alongside virtuoso Palestinian oud artist Basal Zayed, with the Amy Blanding Trio, Bob Bossin, Veda Hille, Onibana Taiko, and Ying Tan (Joyce). Emceeing the livestream event will be activist, writer, and comedian Charlie Demers.
Vancouver’s Tamam: Fine Palestinian Cuisine is a co-sponsor of the Mother’s Day for Gaza concert. Co-owner Sobhi Zobaidi expressed his appreciation for the solidarity shown by Indigenous peoples: “We Palestinians have a shared struggle against colonial violence. We are facing the brutality of settler colonialism that leads to genocide.”
The Mother’s Day for Gaza concert is for the women and children of Gaza, he said: “Through music, poetry, and film we can imagine our future and regain control of our stories and history.”
These thoughts were echoed in the remarks of Arwa Shurab, a Palestinian activist with Al Awda and the Palestinian Culture Society of BC who are hosting a Nakba Day rally and a Palestinian exhibit, Gaza Remains the Story.
“These events are acts of resistance,” she said. “They demonstrate our resilience and allow us to tell our stories, our history, and our beautiful culture at a time when Paletinians are being silenced and vilified for speaking the truth. We refuse to be erased, we remain, and we invite you to listen to us and stand with us.”
Shurab said the number of Nakba related events taking place this year has greatly increased compared to last year when there was some hope for a permanent ceasefire. The escalating violence on the part of Israel in Gaza is only increasing Palestinian resistance.
“These events help people understand that Palestinians remain strong,” she said.
The recently formed B.C. Physicians Against Genocide is organizing an educational event featuring Saskatchewan orthopedic surgeon Dr. Deirdre Nunan and former midwife Heba Al-Nashef about their recent experiences of providing healthcare to people in Gaza.
According to physicians’ representative, Dr Sarah Monahan, doctors were increasingly “distraught at the destruction of medical facilities and the targeting of healthcare workers in Gaza.”
Currently over 27 hospitals including ICU, neonatal units, reproductive health centres, cancer centres have been demolished and their equipment has been destroyed. Over 300 healthcare workers are being detained in Israel, she said, appealing to the Canadian government to have Israel respect the Geneva Conventions, principle and protocols calling for the protection of healthcare facilities and healthcare workers.
Monahan highlighted the illegal detention of Dr Abu-Safiyeh, a pediatrician and neonatologist, calling for his protection and release along with other healthcare providers.
Labour 4 Palestine (L4P) representative, Vancouver-born LatinX actor Kaylah Zander-Nuñez called for “increased action and power to balance the forces of imperialism, colonialism, and fascism in the world.” L4P has sold out its Nakba: Labour Stands with Palestine event featuring keynote speaker Chris Smalls, organizer of the Amazon Labour Union.
Independent Jewish Voices (IJV) representative Sarah Levine told the media: “Against the devastating backdrop of genocide, starvation, ethnic cleansing and occupation in Palestine, May 11 begins a week of resistance and commemoration of the Nakba – the ongoing catastrophe of Palestinians being expelled from their lands.”
As a national grassroots organization of Jews and allies, IJV is continuing to work in solidarity with Palestinians for justice and human rights and is co-sponsoring many the Nakba-related events.
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