"I'm not scared of Israel, I am scared of a world that has seemingly lost all sense of humanity." ~ Greta Thunberg from the Global Sumud Freedom Flotilla
by Kiera Merriam
As children and their families stand on the shores of Gaza awaiting the arrival of Global Sumud Freedom Flotilla, a humanitarian mission made up of over 50 ships representing 44 nations, that aims to break the Israeli siege and deliver food, medicine, and aid to the starving people of Gaza, local advocacy groups continue to raise awareness and advocate for a free Palestine and for Canada to instate a two-way arms embargo on Israel.
Palestine Solidarity Grey Bruce is hosting two screenings of 'Gaza: Doctors Under Attack' in Grey Bruce, one at the Port Elgin United Church October 4th and one at the Hanover United Church October 16th.
"All are welcome though viewer discretion is advised," read a recent release from the group.
"[The film] is deeply researched and offers a crucial window into the world of healthcare workers dealing with continuous attacks from the Israeli army," read the release.
"Through the voices of doctors and medics, the film exposes the deliberate targeting of healthcare infrastructure and workers in Gaza," the release said.
Admission is pay-what-you-can with all proceeds going toward humanitarian relief in Gaza and in addition attendees are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items for the Saugeen First Nation and Nawash food banks.
After 724 days of extreme violence and relentless attacks on the besieged Gaza Strip, and later the occupied West Bank, and 70 plus years of occupation, the tides seem to be beginning to shift and the mainstream narrative is changing, albeit slowly, from one of self defence to one of genocide, occupation, and apartheid.
Scores of delegates representing more than 50 countries walked out of a recent address by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the United Nations General Assembly. Canada was among the few countries to remain seated.
A growing number of celebrities and public figures are speaking out and publicly showing their solidarity with Palestine and the Palestinian people.
A recent letter from the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney demanded an end to Canada's free trade agreement with Israel and an immediate two-way arms embargo on Israel.
As part of a 24-hour general strike for Palestine, unions in Italy shut down ports, railways, schools, and shops. Italian dockworkers blocked a weapons shipment to Israel and vowed to "shut down all of Europe" if the Global Sumud Freedom Flotilla was intercepted or attacked.
At different times in the month of September alone, scores of people hit the streets in protest in Vancouver, Toronto, Kenya, and Brussels, to name a few.
Spain proposed their national team might not go to the 2026 World Cup if Israel qualifies and is allowed to compete.
Spain, Iceland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Ireland have all said they will boycott Eurovision 2026 if Israel is permitted to compete.
Barcelona has refused to host the 2026 Tour de France Grand Depart and Canary Islands has refused to host the end of the Vuelta 2026 if Israel is permitted to race.
Pope Leo XIV once again called for a ceasefire and a diplomatic solution in full respect of international humanitarian law.
A United Nations Commission of Inquiry has now joined the growing number of humanitarian organizations and stated Israel has and continues to commit genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and occupied Palestine; organizations including:
Doctors without Borders (November 2023), International Federation for Human Rights (December 2023), Amnesty International (December 2024), European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (December 2024), Human Rights Watch (December 2024), Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention (May 2025), B'Tselem (July 2025), Physicians for Human Rights-Israel (July 2025), International Association of Genocide Scholars, the largest professional organization of scholars studying genocide (August 2025).
The Commission's findings, which looked at Israel's conduct in Gaza as well as occupied Palestinian territory including East Jerusalem and Israel concluded that the Israeli security forces have committed crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the actus reus of two underlying acts of genocide in Gaza.
The report read in part, "The Commission finds that the Israeli security forces have intentionally created an atmosphere of panic and terror and instilled extreme fear in the Palestinians in Gaza since 7 October 2023. Palestinians have been forced to evacuate their homes and have been attacked while they attempted to evacuate."
While these are all undeniably steps in the right direction, one might wonder why it has taken so long for the tides to begin to turn as well as what it will take for world leaders who still support and supply weapons to the state of Israel, Canada included, to draw a line in the sand and finally say enough is enough.
For many the answer is obvious and while those on the fence continue to ponder, the news out of occupied Palestine continues to be horrific and relentless. In the last few weeks alone:
Al Jazeera reported on September 25, 2025 that Israel had bombed Gaza 170 times over a 24 hour period.
On September 26, 2025 MSF International, an independent medical and humanitarian organization was forced to cease their operations in Gaza due to their clinics being encircled by Israeli forces.
Food and medicine have continued to be blocked from the people of Gaza.
An interview with Dr Nada Abu Al Rub at the destroyed Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza revealed they weren't allowed to bring in any baby formula or cash. "It’s mass casualty event after mass casualty event," she said. "It's a nightmare... bombing after bombing."
Abu Al Rub said 70 to 80 percent of their patients are children and pregnant women, they're doing their best to treat these patients without electricity and are being told not to share what's happening or their lives will be in danger.
After IPC findings confirmed evidence of famine in Gaza City, Unicef reported on September 11 that screenings showed one in five children were acutely malnourished in the Gaza Strip.
Since October 2023 more than 20,000 children have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, with 30,000 more injured.
Israel continues to target journalists and aid workers.
On September 14, 2025, investigators said that 15 international doctors reported that at least 114 Palestinian children have been killed with single gunshot wounds to the head or chest, something forensic experts say is consistent with targeted fire.
On September 15, 2025 MSF International reported Israeli forces firing upon a clearly marked water truck destined for distribution to civilians in Gaza.
On September 16, 2025 Israeli soldiers filmed themselves laughing and cheering as they blew up civilian homes in Gaza.
In a recent appearance in Owen Sound, Charlie Angus talked about Palestine and encouraged those in attendance to do something, anything, to make your voice heard in your opposition to what is happening in the region.
Actions include writing your Member of Parliament. For Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound, MP Alex Ruff can be reached at alex.ruff@parl.gc.ca, by mail (postage free) to House of Commons, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0A6 or by telephone: 613-996-5191. At his constituency office in Owen Sound, 208-1101 2nd Avenue East in Owen Sound, N4K 2J1 or by phone at 519-371-1059.
For Huron-Bruce, MP Ben Lobb can be reached at ben.lobb@parl.gc.ca, by mail (postage free) at House of Commons, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0A6, telephone 613-992-8234. At his constituency office in Port Elgin, 5101 Highway 21 South, Port Elgin, N0H 2C5, telephone 519-832-2999.
Palestine Solidarity Grey Bruce can be found on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/palestinesolidaritygreybruce.
To get on their mailing list, email palestinesolidaritygreybruce@gmail.com.
