Latest news with #PalestinianPeople
Associated Press
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Fierté Montréal clarifies its position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
MONTREAL, July 30, 2025 /CNW/ - In light of the widespread suffering, loss of human life, and growing international calls for an immediate and lasting peace in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Fierté Montréal condemns the ongoing genocide in Gaza, expresses solidarity with the Palestinian people, and calls for the lives of 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals in Palestine, and everywhere in the world—to be respected and protected. Fierté Montréal's position on violence of any kind inflicted upon marginalized populations or communities—especially 2SLGBTQIA+ communities— has always been clear: we denounce all forms of violence, we amplify the voices of queer communities who, on our stages and in our spaces, express their support for oppressed peoples, particularly the Palestinian people, and their opposition to genocide. The work of Fierté Montréal is rooted in a long-standing movement to fight oppression, and we acknowledge the pain expressed by queer communities in Montréal since the beginning of the conflict in Gaza. Accordingly, and in line with our zero-tolerance policy for hate speech and incitement to violence, and to ensure that the Fierté Montréal Festival remains a safe and celebratory space for everyone, the Board of Directors of Fierté Montréal has made the decision to deny participation in the Pride Parade to organizations spreading hateful discourse. This measure is taken in the context of a complex geopolitical situation and stems from our commitment to preserving the emotional and physical safety of our communities. This decision is an ethical one: we refuse to allow the spaces of the Fierté Montréal Festival to be instrumentalized in the context of a conflict that involves major violations of fundamental human rights. The Fierté Montréal Festival remains a space for all 2SLGBTQIA+ people, regardless of their cultural background, origin, beliefs, or any other prohibited grounds of discrimination under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Fierté Montréal will continue to welcome all those who share its values with respect and openness. Fierté Montréal is in full preparation mode for a festive, inspiring, and safe event for the more than 400,000 participants expected. The Festival will culminate on August 10 with the highly anticipated Pride Parade under the theme 'Blossom here, now.' On behalf of the Board of Directors, the executive team, the dozens of staff members working day and night, and the hundreds of contractors and volunteers committed to creating an extraordinary festival experience, we wish you a beautiful event. Fierté Montréal will not be commenting further on the conflict. About Fierté Montréal Since 2007, Fierté Montréal has been amplifying the voices of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities to ensure their representation, inclusion, and the recognition of their rights in society. As agents of social change, our festival, community initiatives, and cultural and artistic programming celebrate the creativity and resilience of our communities. In close collaboration with 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, we highlight their struggles and lived realities to the public and institutions alike. Fierté Montréal's activities take place in Tiohtià:ke, on the unceded territory of the Kanien'kehá:ka Nation. We recognize them as the custodians of the lands and waters on which we gather. Tiohtià:ke has long been a gathering place for many First Nations, and today it is home to a diverse Indigenous population, alongside other peoples. With respect for past, present, and future, we honour the continued relationships between Indigenous Peoples and all members of the Montréal community. SOURCE Fierté Montréal
Washington Post
3 days ago
- Business
- Washington Post
Yemen's Houthis threaten to escalate attacks on ships linked to companies dealing with Israel
ATHENS, Greece — The rebel Houthi group in Yemen has said it will target merchant ships belonging to any company that does business with Israeli ports, regardless of nationality, as part of what it described as the next phase of its operations against Israel. The Iran-backed Houthis launched a campaign targeting merchant vessels in response to the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip , saying they were doing so in solidarity with the Palestinian people. Their attacks over the past two years have upended shipping in the Red Sea , through which $1 trillion of goods usually passes each year.
Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
The Sunday Independent's View: Children of Gaza need more than just empty gestures
Trump's tariffs. The National Development Plan. The presidential election. All pale into insignificance next to the hell endured by innocent Palestinians caught up in the 21st century's most brutal conflict, with no respite or hope of escape. Israel suffered abominably in the October 7 massacre two years ago. Seeking to destroy Hamas was a legitimate response. The medieval cruelties being inflicted on Gaza with high-tech efficiency have, however, gone far beyond self-defence. To even call it a war any more is an abhorrent abuse of language and decency. Given the industrial scale of the horrors unfolding before the world's eyes, yesterday's announcement by the Tánaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister, Simon Harris, that the Government is open to holding a national day of solidarity for Gaza might seem like an irrelevant sideshow. There is already an International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, which has been observed annually on November 29 since it was instigated by the United Nations in 1977. Coming on foot of continuing efforts to pass the Occupied Territories Bill — which will inflict little economic damage on Israel, while leaving Ireland vulnerable to revenge by Washington — a national day of solidarity might even be said to conform to an unfortunate tendency in Irish life to make grand gestures that have little real-life benefits, but only serve to make us feel smugly virtuous, as if our being on the right side of history will be any consolation to the dead. Symbolic acts do matter, all the same, and more so if, as Harris hopes, 'many countries did it together'. He has promised to speak to colleagues 'on how to make this happen'. Will there even be a Palestine to recognise if Israel continues its campaign? For young people watching it play out in real time on the screens of their smartphones, the world must seem like a terrifying place right now. Last week, Ireland joined other countries in implementing strict new age verification rules aimed at preventing children seeing porn online, as well as other violent or harmful content. It is not before time. For too long, social media companies and others neglected the responsibility to police their platforms. They lost the right to self-regulate. Collective action was inevitable. Sparing children from the sight of other psychologically dangerous content on the internet will prove more difficult. How can they have the security young people need if they see their elders turning their backs on what is happening in Gaza? Present generations always wondered why the mass murders of the 20th century were allowed to happen on their forebears' watch. Future generations will ask the same question of us. It only brings home the surreal inanity of the diplomatic row that broke out in recent days after France pledged to become the first major western power to recognise the state of Palestine. The US and Israel both condemned the move as a 'surrender to terrorism'. The real question is whether there will soon be a Palestine to recognise if Israel continues its campaign. Piles of rubble and dead bodies do not make a viable state, no more than international days of solidarity have ever saved a single life.
The National
23-07-2025
- Politics
- The National
Moment Trump aide is confronted with photos of Gaza's starving children
An aide to Donald Trump was confronted with photos of starving children in Gaza during a meeting with Tunisia's President Kais Saied. Mr Saied told US envoy Massad Boulos, who is also the father-in-law of the US President's daughter Tiffany Trump, that 'it is time for humanity to wake up and put an end to these crimes against the Palestinian people'. 'I believe you know these images well,' Mr Saied was seen telling the envoy in footage released by the Tunisian presidency. He described one of the photos as showing 'a child crying, eating sand in occupied Palestine'. Mr Boulos stood silently, occasionally nodding, as Mr Saied called events in Gaza 'a crime against all of humanity' and 'absolutely unacceptable'. Lebanese-born Mr Boulos is a senior adviser to Mr Trump on Arab, Middle East and African affairs. His son, Michael Boulos, married Tiffany Trump in 2022. The US is Israel's main political and military backer and has vetoed UN resolutions calling for an end to the war in Gaza. However, Mr Trump has shown signs of thinning patience with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the toll of the 21-month war mounts. Some of Israel's usual allies, including Britain and France, issued stark criticism this week of what they called the 'drip feeding of aid', as starvation takes hold in Gaza. The head of its largest hospital said on Tuesday that 21 children had died from malnutrition and starvation in the previous three days. More than 100 aid organisations warned on Wednesday that 'mass starvation' was spreading across Gaza and that their own colleagues were suffering acutely from the shortages. Israel says some humanitarian supplies are being allowed into Gaza and accuses Hamas of stealing aid.
France 24
23-07-2025
- Politics
- France 24
Tunisia leader shows Trump adviser images of starving Gaza children
Saied told US envoy Massad Boulos, who is also the father-in-law of Trump's daughter Tiffany, that "it is time for all of humanity to wake up and put an end to these crimes against the Palestinian people". "I believe you know these images well," Saied was seen telling the envoy as he showed a photograph of what he described as "a child crying, eating sand in occupied Palestine". Saied showed Boulos several more images, saying that Palestinians in Gaza were subjected to crimes against humanity. Israel is facing mounting international pressure over the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territory, where more than two million people have endured 21 months of devastating conflict. "It is absolutely unacceptable," Saied was heard saying as Boulos stood silently, occasionally nodding. "It is a crime against all of humanity." More than 100 aid organisations warned on Wednesday that "mass starvation" was spreading across the Gaza Strip and that their own colleagues were suffering acutely from the shortages. The head of Gaza's largest hospital said on Tuesday that 21 children had died from malnutrition and starvation in the Palestinian territory in the previous three days. Israel says humanitarian aid is being allowed into Gaza and accuses Hamas of exploiting civilian suffering, including by stealing food handouts to sell at inflated prices or shooting at those awaiting aid. Following his visit to Tunisia, Boulos flew on to the Libyan capital Tripoli on Wednesday, Tunisian media reported.
