Many protesters were likely motivated by the lack of attention and support displaced Palestinians have faced through 75 years of conflict over land they share equal claims to.Ĭhoosing to label a group of demonstrators in a Western liberal democracy as terrorist is never an objective decision. The slogan “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” some demonstrators chanted doesn’t aim to glorify Hamas, but to express Palestinians’ desire for self-determination. The protests in Toronto and Vancouver were in support of Palestine, not Hamas. Conflating Palestinians with Hamas is inaccurate and creates further obstacles to Palestinian freedom by dissuading sympathy for any advocate of Palestine. Just as we can’t fault all Jewish people for the Government of Israel’s actions with respect to Palestinians, we mustn’t reduce the struggle of Palestine to the inhumanity and terror of Hamas. Crucially, such demands misinterpret pro-Palestinian support as being pro-Hamas. Labelling support for Palestinians’ fight for freedom as terrorism is unspeakably dangerous.įollowing pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Toronto and Vancouver this past week, some are calling for the Canadian Federal Government to criminalize glorifying acts of terrorism.
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