MP Salma Zahid's Speech in Parliament Calling for a Ceasefire in Gaza

Written by Salma Zahid MP

Published in News

During the emergency debate in the House of Commons on October 16, I called for a cease fire to protect innocent civilian lives in Gaza. And the voices calling for a cease fire have only grown stronger and stronger.

The crisis in the Middle East did not begin on October 7th. It goes back generations. It is multi-faceted, it is complicated, and it is tragic. But since that date, over 10,000 innocent civilians have lost their lives in Gaza and the West Bank. Over 4,000 of them are children and 2,500 are women. More children were killed in Gaza in one month than in any conflict annually since 2019. Over 1,400 innocent Israeli civilians have lost their lives.

Since the start of hostilities, 89 UNWRA employees have been killed and at least 26 injured. This is the highest number of United Nations aid workers killed in a conflict in the history of the United Nations. Nearly 40 journalists have died.

They were mothers and fathers. They were brothers and sisters. Daughters and sons. Their lives matter too. They were not terrorists.

Gazan children have the same right to live and dream as Canadian children. How many more innocent lives need to be lost?

I am also disappointed at the systemic efforts to shut down, to marginalize, and to target those who speak out for innocent Palestinian civilians and their right to exist. This stifling of speech and targeting of dissent is unacceptable. Canada is the country of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

And while hate speech must always be called out and punished, we must defend the right of people to protest and express their views even when we disagree with them.

Acts of Islamophobia and antisemitism have no place in Canada. I am worried about increasing incidents of vandalism and harassment. We cannot let this hatred come to Canada.
We need to be a country where we listen to each other, we understand that everyone is under great stress, and we treat our neighbours with patience, understanding and love.
We all deserve to feel safe in our communities.

At every opportunity, I have called for a return of all hostages and a cease fire to save innocent civilian lives. It is the only answer, and I will continue to repeat it every chance I get until the violence ends: cease fire now.