Winnipeg protest against Israeli attacks on Gaza planned for Jan. 3

A family fled the scene of a missile strike at Rafah. Over the past two days, Israeli jets have destroyed at least 30 targets in Gaza. Photo: Hatem Omar/MaanImages, via Associated Press. Source: NY Times

The Canadian Palestinian community held demonstrations today in Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal to condemn the latest Israeli aggression against the Palestinians in Gaza which has left at least 280 dead and more than 300 wounded. They demanded that the Canadian Government condemn this latest brutality committed against the Palestinians.

An action to condemn the attacks on Gaza will be held in Winnipeg on Saturday, January 3 at 2 p.m. at the Manitoba Legislature. The action has been called by the Canadian Palestine Support Network (Winnipeg) and is supported by the Peace Alliance Winnipeg.

The Israeli actions in Gaza began on December 27 and are purported to be part of a larger well planned military campaign which will see IDF forces undertaking ground operations as part of the offensive. In an interview with Fox News Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said “all the options are open” when questioned about such operations. Also in an interview with Fox News Defense Minister Ehud Barak said “If boots on the ground will be needed, they will be there.” (Gwen Ackerman and Saud Abu Ramadan; Bloomberg.com)

Israel imposed an economic blockade on Gaza following the elections of 2006 which saw Hamas representatives form the government in Gaza. Since then Gaza has suffered one humanitarian crisis after another due to shortages of food and medical supplies and the breakdown of key infrastructure such as sanitation and water treatment, and electrical generation. Israel justified these measures by labeling Hamas as a “terrorist” organization.

In launching the attacks the Israeli Foreign Ministry is also planning a major public relations campaign to defend its actions. The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that: “Livni instructed ministry officials currently on vacation in Israel to return immediately to their posts abroad, and to immediately mount public relations campaigns in their station countries, focusing on local media and public officials.”