Tomorrow, May 15, will mark the 76th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba (‘catastrophe’ in Arabic), the expulsion, destruction, and ethnic cleansing of Palestine associated with the creation of Israel in 1948. As the last seven months have made clear, the Nakba is a process that has never ended, as Palestinians continue to face brutal Israeli violence in Gaza and elsewhere.

Montreal, May 7, 2024 — The Anti-Racism Program of the CJPME Foundation (ARPCF) is urging Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe to reconsider his decision to celebrate the creation of the State of Israel by raising the Israeli flag at City Hall on May 14, 2024. Especially when Israel's brutal military operations in Gaza have led to staggering Palestinian casualties and destruction, such a gesture on the part of the City of Ottawa is extremely insensitive. Many international observers have criticized these actions as disproportionate and in violation of human rights. Additionally, assertions at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) indicate that Israel is plausibly committing genocide in Gaza.