“We can’t be in Gaza – but we can be here”: London rally echoes global march to rafah

LONDON, ONTARIO — “We can’t be in Gaza – but we can be here,” shouted members of the Canadian Palestinian Social Association (CPSA), a local community organization dedicated to celebrating Palestinian culture and raising awareness about the ongoing genocide committed by the Israeli occupation. The rally, held outside MP Peter Fragiskatos’ office, was one of many acts of international solidarity as thousands of activists across the globe mobilized for the Global March to Gaza.

On June 12, around 60 people gathered at the rally, holding signs, keffiyehs, and Palestinian flags under the cloudy London sky. The event was co-organized by Independent Jewish Voices (IJV) London and People for Peace London, signaling the city’s cross-cultural and interfaith solidarity with Gaza.

Speakers included  Samah Al Sabbagh, a Palestinian advocate and community leader, and David Heap, a longtime activist in his own right. In his address, Heap reminded the crowd that militarization is not foreign to the Western world.

“If you think the tanks in the street are something that only happens in other countries — you need a bit more historical memory,” said Heap. “Tanks in the street can happen in any country.”

This local rally coincided with a larger global action taking place at the Rafah border crossing, where over 50 countries have united under the banner of the Global March to Gaza—a coalition of trade unions, grassroots organizations, and human rights groups demanding an end to the illegal siege.

Participants include members of the Palestinian Youth Movement, Jewish Voice for Labour, Codepink Women for Peace, and Health Workers Alliance for Palestine,  among others. Canadian participants included the Health Workers’ Alliance for Palestine. Many of them gathered today in Cairo, preparing to journey to El Arish and then march on foot to Rafah, where they hope to arrive by Sunday.

Yet, the march has already faced resistance. According to The Palestine Chronicle, around 170 people were detained or deported by Egyptian authorities despite meeting all legal requirements.

The official @GlobalMarchGaza account, which has since been deleted from X (Twitter), posted on June 12th:

“As we stated in our last press release, we want to clarify that the Global March continues despite about 170 people facing delays and deportations at Cairo airport… Our legal services are working on these cases… Thousands of participants are already in Egypt, ready to begin the journey to Rafah.”

CPSA organizers emphasized the importance of visible, vocal resistance within Canada — particularly in cities like London, where MPs remain largely silent or complicit in arms sales and diplomatic cover for Israel, with Arielle Kayabaga being an outlying exception.

The rally ended in unity as the crowd stood and sang the Palestinian National Anthem in Arabic. The message was clear: Though we are thousands of miles from Gaza, we are not indifferent, and we are not silent.

None of the activists were able to reach Rafah, as all were turned back at mostly Cairo airport. Despite the barriers, a quieter but equally potent front is being formed across cities like London. From Canada to Cairo, the cry is rising:

“We are not free until Palestine is free.”

*David Heap is a Board Member of the Antler River Media Co-operative.