Palestinian-run businesses in Winnipeg report threats, abuse as deadly war continues

Ramsey Zeidsays he has tough skin, but the barrage of hate he's enduring as Israel and Hamas are embroiled in a bitter war ispiercingthrough.

Strangers are calling his cellphone20 to 30 times a day, he says. They've accused him, as a Palestinian, of being a terrorist, of killing babies. These comments are taking a toll.

Zeid can usually "kind of roll with the punches pretty easily, but it's been a non-stop,ongoing thing the last four days, and it'sstarting to get to me, I'm not going to lie to you," said themanager ofFood Fareon Maryland Street.

"I'm having a hard time sleeping. It's giving me a headache."

The constant threats and harassment comeafter Hamas,a Palestinian militant group that controls the Gaza Strip, launched a surprise attackon Israel.Israel retailiated with airstrikes, declared war and placedGaza under siege.

As of Thursday, more than 1,200 Israelis and 1,600 Palestinians have been killed.

The conflict has reverberated through Winnipeg, wherecity police have increasedpatrolsaround local synagogues, mosques and other places of worship.

Other businesses targeted

At least threePalestinian-run businesses in Winnipeg have been targeted with threats, name-calling and harassment, saidShahina Siddiqui, executive director of the Islamic Social Services Association.

"There are deaths on both sides. There are human lives lost on both sides,"Siddiquisaid.

"This divide that is developing, not only in Winnipeg but across Canada, is really very alarming, especially when it reaches children and youth who do not have the capacity to process orto make their point of view heard."

Siddiqui didn't want to get into specifics about her conversations with Palestinian business owners,to protect their identities, but she saidtheoverarching theme is impossible to dismiss.

"The messages are always the same:'You are not welcome; you are the problem,'" Siddiqui said.

The owners of another Palestinian-ownedbusiness reached by CBC News confirmed they had received threats, but declined an interview.

Zeidsaidthe messages he's received are dismaying, especially since he thoughtit wasn't possiblein a safe country like Canada.

But the surprise is starting to wear off.He playeda voicemail for CBC News where he wastold that after Israel pummels theGaza Strip,they're coming for him next.

"Unfortunately, the shock's gone," Zeid said, after replaying the message. "Just another one of these idiots."

Aside from calls to his personal and work phone number, he's endured hate on social media and had to repair a smashed window at his Maryland Street grocery store (though he cannot confirm the vandal's motivation).

He also has a public profile as the president of the CanadianPalestinian Association of Manitoba.

Police report filed

Zeid called the police on Wednesday after someone ran into his store, screaming and yelling profanities. It's happened a few times, he says.

"Peoplearound me are starting to feel unsafe. I need to make sure that they feel at ease and they feel safe," he said.

The Winnipeg Police Service did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursdayabout the reports of abuse faced by Palestinian-owned businesses.

Despite the unease he's feeling, Zeid saidhis customers havebeen sympathetic and understanding. The business is continuing to do well.

He remains worried, however, that the war itself isonly going to get worse.

Siddiquiurges everyone to remember that human lives are being lost as the conflict in the Middle East shows no signs of letting up.

"To me, a Palestinian life is no greater than an Israeli life," she said.

"This is the message that's not coming through. The message that is coming through, unfortunately, whether it is intended or not, is that one life has a greater value."