Killed While Waiting on Canada as Son Launches Hunger Strike

This gentleman on the left is Abdullah Jarghon. He is the father of Palestinian Canadian permanent resident Hossam Jarghon (on the right) Hossam's father was killed on July 26 in Gaza, along with his niece, and three of his nephews, when an Israeli airstrike made a direct hit on a tent where the family was sheltering. All of them had been waiting for visas to come to Canada for 564 days, since January 10, 2024. Had they been Ukrainian, their visas would have been processed within 14 days. The fact that it took 140 times longer to process the applications (and still they are not completed) has led, once more, to a horrific and wholly preventable loss. In addition, nine of Hossam's nephews were seriously injured, and his brother Samer sustained life-threatening wounds. The blood is not only on Israeli hands but on Canada’s as well. In addition to Canada being a sole-source supplier for F-35 parts used in such bombing strikes, as well as a sole-source supplier of the accelerant used in Israeli weapons, Canada was legally obligated to take provisional measures in January 2024 to prevent further harm and protect vulnerable populations during ongoing legal proceedings when the International Court of Justice ruled a plausible case of genocide was taking place. One measure Canada should have been taking was prioritizing the emergency exit of Palestinian loved ones from Gaza to their Canadian families. But instead of an emergency humanitarian program, this has been a None is Too Many program, reminiscent of another horrible chapter in our history. Hossam has now begun an open-ended hunger strike seeking the immediate evacuation of all of his surviving family members, including his mother, sisters, and other children who, he told the Rural Refugee Rights Network, "are still alive but remain trapped under catastrophic conditions — with no access to proper medical care, no food, no medicine, and no safe shelter.” In a brief statement this morning, Hossam wrote: "In response to this unbearable inaction and to save what remains of my family, I began a peaceful hunger strike on Saturday, July 26, 2025, and I will continue until my surviving family members are safely evacuated and reunited with me in Canada. I appeal to the Government of Canada — a nation known for its compassion and respect for human dignity — to act immediately. Any further delay could mean additional lives lost. I also call on Canadian media outlets to help raise awareness of this urgent humanitarian crisis. My family — like many others — is suffering in silence and needs your voice.” +++++++++++++++++++ Hossam's is one of the voices we will take with us when we hold our weekly Ottawa vigil to Evacuate and Reunite all Palestinian families from Gaza with their loved ones in Canada. It takes place Wednesday, July 30, 11 am to 1 pm, at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, 300 Slater Street (at Kent). If you are in Winnipeg, a family reunification vigil will occur the same day at 3:30 pm to 6 pm at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, 269 Main Street.