Brampton calls for Israel-Gaza ceasefire following ‘barbaric’ attack by Hamas: Mayor Brown

Brampton City Council is adding its voice to the chorus calling for an end to the violence as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues.

The declaration was passed by a unanimous vote at a Brampton Committee of Council meeting on Wednesday, calling for an end to the war started on Oct. 7 when Hamas militants stormed southern Israel killing more than 1,400 people according to reports.

But retaliatory strikes into Gaza by Israel have killed more than 11,000 people, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. And as Brampton is a mosaic of peoples and cultures from around the world, Mayor Patrick Brown says he’s heard from residents impacted by the fighting as when international incidents occur there “tends to be a connection to our city.”

“Looking at the civilian casualties and toll in both Gaza and in Israel on that attack was horrifying, and it reverberates here,” Brown said on Wednesday.

The motion which calls out antisemitism, islamophobia, terrorism and “hate in all its forms” was put forward by Coun. Navjit Kaur Brar and seconded by Coun. Gurpartap Singh Toor, passing with the full support of council.

“It’s our duty to listen to the concerns of our communities, and right now our Brampton community and our global community are in distress,” Brar said. “We need to be the voice of our residents and acknowledge that they are all affected by what is going on.”

The motion called for an end to the fighting on both sides of the conflict, with Mayor Brown condemning what he called the “barbaric” and “evil” attack by Hamas on Oct. 7.

“That’s who we are in Brampton…we embrace that mantra that we uplift communities, and stand against that,” Brown went on to say. “And when any part of our community is grieving, we grieve with them.”

The National Council of Canadian Muslims applauded Brampton for passing the ceasefire motion and has called for all municipalities across Canada to do the same.

“For over a month, the world has been watching the unfolding situation in Israel and Gaza in shock and horror at the growing number of lives lost and lives torn apart,” part of the motion reads

“What the terrorist organization Hamas did on October 7th was horrific and there’s no justification for it.

“The continued bombing of Palestinians in Gaza is unbearable. No one should live under constant threat of violence, or be denied the necessities of life. And yet, so many Palestinian and Israeli civilians have lost their lives or been taken captive; women, journalists, doctors – the toll on children has been especially heart-breaking.”

“Israelis deserve to be safe. Palestinians deserve to be safe.”

Today, Brampton City Council unanimously passed a motion to call for the immediate and unconditional return of hostages and a ceasefire, as has been called for by many humanitarian organizations. The events unfolding across the world have far reaching effects. We need to be the… pic.twitter.com/QMYTgnwY8U

— Navjit Kaur Brar (@Navjitkaurbrar) November 15, 2023

The chorus for peace is growing across #Canada.

Louder and louder, city by city.

The City of Brampton has voted unanimously for an immediate ceasefire in #Gaza.

More than 10,000 civilians have died, including thousands of children.

Canada must call explicitly for a… pic.twitter.com/oXHokXBCwA

— NCCM (@nccm) November 15, 2023