Manitoba Jewish, Palestinian groups react to deadly Hamas attack on Israel

Jewish and Palestinian community leaders in Manitoba are expressing shock at the surprise attack by Hamas militants on Israel Saturday.

It’s not immediately clear what prompted Hamas to launch the attack, which came after weeks of simmering tensions along the Gaza frontier.

Militants fired thousands of rockets and sent dozens of fighters to infiltrate the heavily fortified border by air, land and sea.

The conflict is being called the deadliest in Israel in decades, with President Benjamin Netanyahu declaring the country is at war.

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‘We are at war’: Hamas surprise attack against Israel leaves hundreds dead in fighting, retaliation

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Belle Jarniewski, the executive director of the Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada, is condemning the attack.

“Everyone here of course, their hearts are there and have the same response, that we’re just all in shock to see what’s happening,” said Jarniewski.

Some 2,500 rockets sent air raid sirens wailing as far north as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, while Hamas gunmen rolled into as many as 22 locations outside the Gaza Strip, including towns as far as 24 kilometres from the Gaza border.

At least 200 people have been killed and more than a thousand have been injured.

“The number of casualties already,” said Jarniewski. “The number of civilian casualties, kidnappings, etc. And thousands of rockets. It’s unexpected and just so shocking. I have many friends and loved ones there. Reading about people being terrified in their homes. There are really no words to describe the terror that these people must be feeling.

“Just imagine that someone attacks, that forces attack Winnipeg and that people are going into our houses and dragging children out. Dragging elderly people out. Killing civilians. I think we would want our military forces to respond strongly.”

The Israeli military struck targets in the Gaza Strip in response, with the Palestinian Health Ministry saying at least 198 people have been killed and at least 1,610 wounded.

Jarniewski was left frustrated by the timing of the attack: it happened on a major Jewish holiday, and the day after the 50-year anniversary of the 1973 Yom Kippur attack. She says she doesn’t see a peaceful way forward.

“These are terrorists who have clearly always stated that they want to completely destroy the country,” she told CityNews. “They’ve called on all Palestinians to participate in this. I hope that they will not. But it certainly also makes the prospects of peace within Israel more difficult.”

‘The people in Gaza right now are fed up’

Ramsey Zeid, the president of the Canadian Palestinian Association of Manitoba, says he’s shocked by what’s happening.

“The extent of what’s going on right now did shock me at how far this has gone so far,” he said.

“The people in Gaza right now are fed up. They’ve been living in an open-air prison for so long that they just want to be free. This is the result of people being locked up and caged up for so long.

“Gaza is … less than half the size of Winnipeg, that has almost three million people living in it. They live basically, they’re on top of each other. To get in and out is an ordeal. There’s a border, you can’t get in, you can’t get out. There’s no medication getting in, there’s no food getting in. Power is cut off when Israel wants. Water is cut off when they want. It’s an open-air prison.”

Zeid says many Palestinians feel they’ve been forgotten and they see no way to move forward.

“They’ve tried reaching out to government,” he said. “They’ve tried reaching out to the United Nations, and it’s not working. Nothing else is working.”

Both Jarniewski and Zeid say they are praying.

“Our hearts are with you,” said Jarniewski to the people of Israel. “We pray for a quick end to this war. And pray as always, for peace.”

“No one is listening to them,” added Zeid. “I pray for their lives. I pray for all their lives. On both sides.”

Reaction from politicians in Manitoba, Canada

Canadian politicians condemned the attack Saturday.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the “acts of violence are completely unacceptable.”

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said “Hamas terrorists” were carrying out “sadistic violence… against innocent civilians.”

In Manitoba, the premier-elect and outgoing premier both weighed in on the conflict.

“This morning I spoke with members of the Jewish community in Manitoba to express my solidarity,” Wab Kinew said in a statement. “I condemn the terrorist attacks against Israel, the targeting of civilians, and affirm Israel’s right to self-defence.

“My hope is for a swift de-escalation of this conflict.”

This morning I spoke with members of the Jewish community in Manitoba to express my solidarity.

I condemn the terrorist attacks against Israel, the targeting of civilians, and affirm Israel's right to self-defense.

My hope is for a swift de-escalation of this conflict.

— Wab Kinew (@WabKinew) October 7, 2023

Outgoing Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson said the province “strongly condemns the terrorist attacks against the state of Israel.

“We denounce these acts of violence and we stand with Israel and fully support its right to defend itself and its people against terror under international law.

The thoughts and concerns of all Manitobans right now are with those civilians affected by today’s violence. We stand with the Jewish community.”

Global Affairs Canada says there are currently 1,419 registered Canadians in the state of Israel and 492 in the Palestinian territories.

—With files from The Canadian Press and The Associated Press