Hamza Media

March 30, 2024 – Vancouver, BC –  Early Saturday morning, 40,000 Palestinian flags were erected in Devonian Park in Vancouver’s West End to symbolize the significant loss of civilian life due to the ongoing assault on Gaza, and Canada’s role in funding the slaughter. Over 100 community members from across Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, composed the installation over 2 hours using recycled materials. Each flag represents a civilian life lost in Gaza due to Israel’s ongoing military assault on Gaza since early October 2023. The United Nations estimates approximately 70 per cent of fatalities are of women and children. A further 70,000 thousand people have life-threatening injuries, with limited access to healthcare and aid. 

This Vancouver installation follows a number of displays across the country and internationally, including Portland and London.

The Vancouver Palestinian organizer and community advocate, Tamer Abu-Ramadani said “This is a demonstration to represent the conscience of many Canadians, the majority of whom are urging the government to demand a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, and to end arms exports. Yet Canada continues to fund the Israeli government’s ongoing and plausible genocide, as per the January International Court of Justice’s ruling; this is contrary to international law, and does not align with stated Canadian values of equity and reconciliation with Indigenous communities.

“Vancouver citizens are welcome to explore the installation and to reflect on Canada’s role in funding and supporting the deaths, ethnic cleansing, starvation and harm to over two million civilians. As community members, we can take action by holding government officials to a higher standard, one where equity and human rights are a fundamental value in all decision-making, with no exceptions.”

Many of the installation’s organizers have direct family ties to Gaza and spoke of their distress to both national and international responses to the Israeli government’s military action in Gaza.

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