Montrealers rally to call for justice beyond ceasefire in Gaza

Hundreds gathered in downtown Montreal, in front of the U.S. Consulate, to mark the announcement of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, an significant step in the 15-month conflict. The event, organized by the Montreal chapter of the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM), included a march to the Israeli Consulate and drew support from groups such as Quebec Médecins Against the Genocide in Gaza. Participants called on Canada to divest from Israel and criticized media coverage they believe has perpetuated misinformation about the conflict.

The ceasefire, set to begin on Sunday, January 19, will be implemented in three phases. The first phase, lasting six weeks, will include a temporary pause in hostilities and the release of hostages by Hamas, and Palestinian prisoners by Israel. The second phase, beginning in March, will make the ceasefire permanent, with a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and the release of all remaining hostages. The final phase will focus on reconstruction efforts in Gaza and the return of any deceased hostages' remains.

Despite the agreement, Gaza has endured continued bombardments after the announcement of the ceasefire deal, resulting in over 100 deaths and over 250 injuries. Addressing the crowd, Reem Said, a representative of PYM, emphasized the need for sustained engagement: “The struggle does not end with a ceasefire. We have a long road ahead and will continue to struggle until full liberation and return. Our people in Gaza will rebuild. They will rebuild every home, every building, every school, every hospital, every mosque, every church that were bombed.”

The event highlighted calls for global solidarity and long-term solutions to address the root causes of the conflict.