Winnipeg families fill sky with kites in solidarity with Gaza

Several dozen Winnipeggers took their children to St. Vital Park to fly kites in solidarity with Gaza on Sunday afternoon.

The day had addedmeaning for Bassam Hozaima, who was born in a Gazarefugee camp. Making kites was one of the few pastimes available to children growing up there, he said.

"It's generation after generation. Palestinian children are born into it," he said about conflict in the region.

"That's not fair, because they have nothing to do with it and they're affected by it, and when you see children in Gaza being killed and killed and maimed and raising their hands and losing their limbs why?"

Sunday's kite flightprovided a space to call for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas warand demand action from the Canadian government, said Sara Warkentin,a member of Family Actions for Palestine, which organized the event.

Kites are a symbol of play, freedom and togetherness around the world, Warkentin said.

They're also a nod to the children of Gaza's world recordfor most kites flown at once, set in 2011, with over 12,000 sent aloft over a northern beach in the territory.

NeilExell,also part of Family Actions for Palestine, said the group was createdso families and their kidscould have spaces to take action in a way that feels accessible for them.

"Part of the reason that we're doing something like this is because a lot families don't necessarily feel comfortable doing other types of direct action with their children," he said.

"Aprotest where they're blocking traffic and that sort of thing, people are very supportive of that, but might not want to involve young kids."

The current war started Oct. 7 when Hamas led an attack on Israel, killingover1,200 peopleand taking nearly 250 hostages,according to Israeli tallies. Hamasmilitantsare believed to still be holding more than 100 hostages.

The Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza said Sunday that more than 31,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began.

The ministry is part of the Hamas-run government and its figures from previous wars have largely matched those of the UNand independent.

The UN says a quarter of Gaza's 2.3 million people are at risk of starvation because its borders are closed and it has become impossible to deliver needed aid.

Ramadanbegins Monday, but talks for aceasefire which would have allowed the Muslim holy month to pass peacefully and enabled the return of some Israeli hostages appear to havestalled.

A Hamas official told Reuters the group was open to more negotiations but, as far as he knew, no dates had been set for further meetings with mediators in Cairo.

At St. Vital Park, Hozaima said the holy month is about faith, and Gazans still believethe conflict will end one day.

"It's a time to reflect and a time to renew your faith," he said about Ramadan.

"The people of Gaza, they're showing the world what faith is all about because they haven't lost faith.

"You see them interviewed, like, people there who are directly affected by this, in Gaza or Rafah orKhan Youniswhen you see them, you see nothing but just strength and dignity and pride."

WATCH | Gazan doctors struggle to treat malnourished, dehydrated children:

Inside a Gaza hospital where doctors struggle to treat malnourished, dehydrated children

7 months ago

Duration 1:31

Dr. Bilal Al-Shafi'i, who works in Rafah in southern Gaza, says children are arriving at hospital 'like a corpse' as they face severe dehydration and malnutrition. Warning: This video contains scenes of malnourished children.