City of Powell River Council has adopted a motion to send correspondence to Canadian political leaders, calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
At the December 19 committee of the whole meeting, councillors heard a presentation from five delegates, urging council to join in on the call of other cities, mayors and councils to pass a unanimous motion for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
Leading off the presentation, Amira Abouelalla said the delegates were standing before council to amplify the voices of the Palestinian people.
“We are reaching out to our local elected officials to amplify the urgent calls for a permanent ceasefire and end of Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian land,” said Abouelalla. “We are sharing in the cries of all persons, businesses, citizens and leaders to call for a ceasefire. A humanitarian pause was not enough. A four-day truce was not enough.
“As concerned citizens, and human beings here today, we cannot be silent while lives are being senselessly lost at an alarming rate.”
Advocates for peace
Alaa Badraan, another presenter, said as members of the ceasefire group, and as members of qathet, representing a diverse array of backgrounds and beliefs, they are coming together united in commitment to fostering harmony and justice.
“Today, we stand before you as advocates for peace and compassion, urging our city councils to join the call for an immediate ceasefire in Palestine. We do so not as a fragmented group, but as a collective voice embodying the spirit of unity that defines our community.
“Our commitment to promoting understanding of who we are extends to our stance on pro-Semitism and anti-Islamophobia. We firmly believe that fostering empathy and respect between different communities is essential for the well-being of all communities around the world. In advocating for a ceasefire in Palestine, we are guided by a shared commitment to human rights and the dignity of all people.”
Shyanne Ashton-Hopkins said as acting members with power representing the city, that council should join the calls for a ceasefire and an end to the illegal occupation of Palestinian lands.
“We can follow the precedent of the City of Burnaby, which was the first so-called Canadian city to call for a ceasefire,” said Ashton-Hopkins. “Mayors from Saskatoon, Edmonton, Hamilton, London, Victoria and Toronto have followed suit. Alongside them are city councillors from Mississauga, Brampton, Vancouver and more.”
Ashton-Hopkins said the group was asking that city council and qathet Regional District make a joint statement denouncing all acts of hate, including Islamophobia, anti-Semitism and colonial violence.
Also presenting to committee of the whole were Rachel Driedger and Emmy-Lou Corbett.
Councillor Trina Isakson said she shared in the group’s hope for justice and safety for all.
Complex conflict
Mayor Ron Woznow said the conflict is a complex subject.
“My question is, did your organization take a stance when Hamas attacked Israel?” asked Woznow.
Abouelalla said they condemned Hamas. She said, however, when the hostage exchange happened, she saw Palestinian women and children in exchange and Palestinian people had been in prisons for decades for no obvious reasons. She asked Woznow if he condemned that, and the Israeli government for keeping Palestinian women and children in prisons.
Woznow said he had no information on which to make a rational response to the question.
Councillor Rob Southcott said there is a saying that evil is done while good people stand by and do nothing. He said there is one enemy, and that is division between people.
“War is the ultimate of divisions between us,” said Southcott. “I feel I need to do anything I can do, which means speak, or write.”
Councillor and committee chair George Doubt said he was appalled with the attack on Israel and the taking of hostages. He said he thought bloodshed would follow.
“It has been painful,” said Doubt. “To watch the news and see the number of people who are dying because of the actions, looks to be like genocide. The estimated number of people that have died in Gaza since October 7 is around 20,000 men, women and children, more than the entire population of qathet Regional District. It pains me to not be able to do anything about it.”
Doubt said the federal government’s response was weak and timid.
“We need to speak up and do what we can,” he added. “You’ve come to ask us to use our power, which is actually puny, but putting our voices together and standing up is an important thing for us to do. I don’t want to be the person that my grandchildren say: ‘why didn’t you do anything about it?’”
Isakson made a motion that Woznow, on behalf of council, write a letter to prime minister Justin Trudeau, minister of foreign affairs Mélanie Joly, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre and North Island-Powell River MP Rachel Blaney, asking the Government of Canada to use its influence to urge all parties for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, for all hostages to be released, and for unimpeded humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza, and that mayor and council condemn all forms of anti-Semitism and anti-Palestinian racism and Islamophobia.
Council unanimously supported the motion.
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