The Israel-Hamas conflict has woven a complex bifurcation in the world. Even if people have bisected opinions and ideologies, taking a side in the ongoing war is the defeat of humankind.
The Hamas’s barbaric attacks on October 7, 2023, claimed over 1,400 Israeli lives while 222 people were held hostages.
On the other hand, Israel’s incessant airstrikes on Gaza have led to absolute destruction, leaving the city in ruins with no food, water, or electricity. Israel cut off the supplies for a complete blackout.
Per the latest reports from the DeFacto authorities, the death toll in Gaza has reached over 5087 people killed since Israel declared a ‘state of war.’
As the world witnessed these atrocities, the stance intensified with each passing day as protests were held worldwide for a ceasefire in Gaza. But at the same time, people were also getting canceled for having polarising opinions.
The recent subject of cancelation is someone who belongs to the political realm.
On Monday, October 23, 2023, Ontario MPP Sarah Jama was censured and removed from the NDP caucus as she publicly denounced the ‘occupation of Palestine.’ According to the NDP, they condemned Jama’s comments as she failed to acknowledge the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023. Jama still maintained her stance in the legislature on Israeli apartheid.
What Did NDP MPP Sarah Jama Say?
The pro-Palestine global protests are the single thread of hope for the people in Gaza who are simply counting the minutes till they lose their lives to the blasts. The recent attack on the Gaza hospital took over 500 innocent lives. This incident sparked worldwide outrage as the nations have forgotten humanity in the pursuit of war.
Meanwhile, world leaders are busy debating over who is to blame for the attacks when they should harmonize a ceasefire rather than extend ‘unwavering support’ to one side.
Sarah Jama, Ontario MPP, was under hot waters after she posted on public forums about the absolute need to stop the inhumane attacks on Gaza, decrying the “occupation of Palestine.” A majority of members of the parliament demanded that she retract her statement and apologize if she did not want the consequences.
At that time, NDP leader Marit Stiles requested to waive the comments as Jama did apologize for not acknowledging the terrifying attacks by Hamas militants on innocent Israelis.
However, Sarah Jama did not back down from her stance on Monday as she issued a statement in the legislature. Here are the excerpts from her statements–
“The Ford government has nothing meaningful to say about these atrocities and has now targeted me to distract from its own scandals. Those of us committed to Palestinian life refuse to be distracted,”
“I ground my words in the realities of Israeli apartheid and Israel’s ongoing domination and occupation of Palestinian lands. To every person taking risks to speak up for Palestinian dignity and safety, I see you, I hear you, and I am with you.”
“Those of us committed to Palestinian life refuse to be distracted.”
“I restate my call for an immediate ceasefire by Israeli forces and for the immediate restoration of food, water, fuel, and electricity in Gaza.”
“Governments and institutions in Canada are trying to use their voice and weight to silence us, to silence workers, students, educators and peace-loving people who dare to support Palestine.”
This statement is more resounding, considering Sarah Jama has family in Palestine, and she is standing for their fundamental human rights.
Why Was MPP Sarah Jama Removed From The NDP Caucus?
The Doug Ford government heavily condemned Sarah Jama’s social media post, and a motion was aligned to demobilize Hamilton-Centre MPP’s statement and forbid the speaker to recognize her until she apologized for her post. The motion was passed with 63-23 as NDP voted against the censure.
NDP Leader Stiles stated that she would support Jama under a condition “which included working together in good faith with no surprises.”
However, Jama’s conduct in the legislature compelled Stiles to remove her from the NDP caucus. Stiles issued a statement saying–
“Since then, she has undertaken a number of unilateral actions that have undermined our collective work and broken the trust of her colleagues.”
“Some of Ms. Jama’s actions have contributed to unsafe work environments for staff.”
“As such, with the support of our Ontario NDP MPPs, I have been left with no option but to remove Ms. Jama from our Caucus.”
What is your take on this case? Is the removal of the Ontario MPP justified, or does this decision violate the freedom of speech?
Do you think Sarah Jama was wrong not to include Hamas’s atrocities in her statement? Let us know in the comments section below.
