‘Ceasefire now’: hundreds gather at Hamilton City Hall in support of Palestine

Hundreds of people gathered outside of Hamilton City Hall on Sunday calling for an immediate ceasefire and an end to what they say is a genocide occurring in Gaza.

The rally was organized by local advocacy group Hamilton4Palestine and began with a Muslim prayer and a land acknowledgment before speakers took turns urging political leaders to call for a ceasefire.

Among the demands was a push for the federal government to declare Israel an apartheid state and impose sanctions.

In one of her first public appearances since being removed from the NDP caucus, independent MPP Sara Jama reaffirmed her support for Palestinians, leading a chant of “ceasefire now.”

She said “Israel has shown there are no limits to the atrocities the state is willing to commit”, referring to the government’s indiscriminate bombing on one of the world’s most densely populated areas.

WATCH MORE: Crisis in Gaza worsens as Israel warns of long war with Hamas

More than 9,700 people have been killed by Israeli airstrikes on Gaza since October 7, with over 4,000 of them being children according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

The Israeli government has imposed a complete siege of Gaza, shutting down all communications and internet services for the third time in recent weeks. access to water and electricity has been limited.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said today that there will be no ceasefire without the return of more than 240 hostages captured by Hamas.

Hamilton Rabbi David Mivasair was met with cheers from the crowd when he said many Jewish people are re-evaluating their attachment to the state of Israel. he has been arrested several times for his pro-Palestinian advocacy.

Sunday’s rally comes on the heels of nationwide marches throughout the weekend.

Hundreds of Canadians, permanent residents, and their families remain trapped in Gaza as they await approval to pass through the Rafah border crossing into Egypt.

WATCH MORE: Israeli airstrikes hit Gaza refugee camp for second day