Israeli man living in Windsor hopes to rejoin military back home during Hamas conflict

Omir Azriel arrived in Windsor, Ont., two years ago from Israel. Also a veteran of the Israel Defence Forces, he says he will soon return to fight in the growing conflict in Israel as a reserve member.

"I got called to get back and get drafted," said Azriel.

"Probably in the next few days I will get back to Israel, connect with my unit and continue to fight."

Azriel and hundreds of others gathered at Congregation Beth El in Windsor on Tuesday night for a gathering in solidarity with Israel after recent attacks by Hamas militants over the weekend.

The conflict has now claimed at least 1,900 lives.

Azriel says he came to Canada alone, and all of his family and friends are still in Israel. He says they are anxious and scared to leave their homes.

"Everyone will know these kinds of acts are not freedom fighting. These kinds of acts are not humane at all. This is not supposed to happen."

Tuesday's gathering was the largest gathering of Windsor's Jewish community, according to Dan Brotman, since he moved to the city.

Brotman says people unitedin solidarity and in sadness.

Windsor Jewish community rallies in solidarity with Israel

1 year ago

Duration 1:50

Members of the Jewish community in Windsor gathered at Congregation Beth El on Tuesday night in solidarity with Israel, as conflict in the region escalates. Omir Azriel, a veteran of the Israel Defense Forces who moved to Windsor two years ago, says he has been recalled to fight in the conflict as a reserve member. Dan Brotman is the executive director of the Windsor Jewish Federation and urges local leaders to advocate for peace during this conflict.

"The recent events in Israel are the biggest tragedy to befall on the Jewish people since the Holocaust," he said.

"We came together in unity tonight to support the state of Israel, to support the soldiers and the Israel Defence Forces, and to pray for the hostages and the families of the ...victims who were brutally murdered over the past four days."

Brotman acknowledged Windsor's large Middle Eastern population, and urged peace, despite disagreements over the situation in Israel and Gaza.

"We cannot import this conflict to Windsor-Essex," he said."We do not have to agree on what's happening between Israelis and Palestinians, but we do have to agree to treat each other with dignity and respect."

"I call upon our elected leaders to not fan the flames between our population."

There was a small police presence at the event, Brotman added.

Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said in a statement Tuesday that Windsor is "a community that finds much strength in its multiculturalism and diversity, and Iwould ask that everyone focus on unity during this challenging time.

"I stand with everyone working to find a peaceful resolution to a very complex problem, and I condemn violence in all forms."

Rally in support of Palestinian people planned for Thursday

The rally comes after Hamas militants came into as many as 22 locations outside the Gaza Strip on Saturday. Gun battles in the area lasted hours, including at a local music festival. Militants held hostages in two towns.

In response, Israel launched a series of airstrikes into Gaza, that have flattened residential buildings and other gathering places.

The University of Windsor Palestinian Solidarity Group is hosting a rally in solidarity with the people of the Palestinian territories, on Thursday at Windsor's riverfront.

Rasha Zaid is a Palestinian woman living in Windsor, with family currently in Gaza.

Shesays she will be attending Thursday's rally.

"The more the crowd, the stronger the message," said Zaid.

"A lot of people are unaware of what's happening in Palestine and in the conflicts going on. People have misinformation about what is actually happening."

The Windsor Islamic Association said in a statement Wednesday they believe the root cause of the conflict is "the Israeli military occupation of Palestine."

"As such, we call on our Canadian government and our politicians to be fair by recognizing the suffering that is taking place on both sides and to take whatever measures necessary to bring about lasting peace."

Zaid says her family in the Gaza Strip are fearful, and are being told to evacuate but there is nowhere to go.

"They're saying we're just defending our right because they're attacking us. They're attacking because you stripped them from their human rights, from their land, from their people, from their homes."