Petition calls on council to join other municipalities in asking for federal action on ceasefire in Gaza

Woman in glasses, with long hair, smiling at camera
Woman in glasses, with long hair, smiling at camera
Sackville resident Sarah Kardash, outside of Tantramar council chambers, January 9, 2023. Photo: Erica Butler

The devastation in Gaza was again top of mind at Sackville town hall on Tuesday, as about 50 local residents gathered in the cold outside to hold a candlelight vigil, with others attended the meeting inside, and asked Tantramar council to follow the lead of other Canadian municipalities, and ask the federal government to pursue a ceasefire in Gaza.

Sackville Ceasefire Coalition member Sarah Kardash presented to council, spending her five minutes of allotted time laying out reasons why town council should write to Prime minister Justin Trudeau and ask him to demand a ceasefire in Gaza.

“As a Jewish member of the coalition, I’m horrified that Israel is weaponizing the deaths of Israeli citizens on October 7 to fuel a genocidal war against Palestinians,” said Kardash, quoting the large numbers of Palestinians killed in the Israeli campaign to eradicate Hamas.

According to the estimates from the Gaza Health Ministry, over 23,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since October 7, the majority women and children.

“The UN has called Gaza a graveyard for children,” Kardash told council. “Imagine the equivalent of two nuclear bombs dropping on an area half the size of Tantramar… Experts say the relentless bombing by Israel since October 7 is the most destructive in modern history and among the deadliest in recent history.”

Kardash presented a detailed petition to council signed by 253 local residents, and organized by the coalition, which Kardash described as “a group of Tantramar residents of diverse ages, faiths and backgrounds who are united as global citizens in our humanitarian concerns for the people of Gaza.”… Continue