🍉 VanGran4Pal Community Newsletter (June 19, 2026)

Introduction

Dear neighbours and friends,

In this week’s edition we have an amazing selection of local events. From an emo show to queer cinema for Palestine, there’s a lot of ways to meet your community, raise money for Palestinian relief efforts and enjoy your summer.

FIFA has completely taken over the city and if you haven’t already emailed the Canada soccer board to kick Israel out of FIFA, scroll down to our action updates and get typing! If you're a soccer fan, you can enjoy the sport AND object to the absurdity that we're still being forced to accept Israel 'has a right' to enter these global events, that many see as a time to celebrate and embrace joy. The genocidal oppressors should not be allowed to feel that everything is normal for them, when even since the 'ceasefire' over 1,000 Palestinians have been killed: an abomination.

Israel obviously didn't even qualify for the World Cup, but they shouldn't have ever been invited to try. Your voice matters - object at every opportunity. Back in May, we were pleased to see five countries (Iceland, Ireland, The Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain) refusing to participate in the Eurovision song contest because Israel was a participant - the largest number of protesting countries since 1970. We can't stay silent and allow Israel's participation in anything to be normalised, now or ever, when there is no accountability, no justice, no peace. There have been some inspiring moments of protest already this tournament, from powerful guerilla Vancouver art to fans chanting Free Palestine. We love to see it.

Solidarity doesn't need to mean avoiding joy in your own life and activism should feel like community and connection, whether through art, voice or anything else. We got together to write this newsletter and shared gossip, community updates and laughter. We had a discussion about how we want to be armed with the perfect questions and comebacks for when politics sneaks into a casual conversation with family or a boss or an acquaintance. What we know is this: life is a unique, special, complex tapestry. When you align with the most basic moral truth, that everyone deserves a chance to live, you'll always find the right answer. When you hold in your heart the children who are no longer here because that chance at experiencing the full tapestry of life was taken from them, you will know the words to say on their behalf. You'll remember to stick to the boycott, you'll want to protest when you can, you will want to use your voice and speak up for what is right; now and always, through the many moments of your own precious daily life.

Actions you can take

The CRA Must Abide By Its Own Policies: No Support for A Foreign Military

According to CRA policy, charities are not allowed to support foreign military. It is also a crime in Canada to, not only recruit anyone for a foreign military, but to aid and abet such recruitment by offering incentives and encouraging any person to serve in a foreign military.
Yet, there are countless examples of Canadian charities supporting the Israeli military. This includes various summer camps.

• Camp Kadimah’s Head of Camper Care, Sharon Friedberg, is “an IDF veteran with strong ties to Israel.”
• Camp Northland BB hosted Barak Malichi, a member of the Israeli military who has posted clips of himself in Gaza ‘joking’ about eating humanitarian aid.
• One of Camp Biluim’s Head Counsellors, Liry, is an Israeli military veteran who “served as a Mashakit Tash in Givati unit during the war.”
• Camp Moshava Ennismore’s Head Chef in 2023 was a “chef in the IDF for 3 years.” Their Head Chef in 2024, Yehudah Jacobs, is the founder of the non-profit Smiles for the Kids “which feeds IDF soldiers weekly…” They’ve also hired individuals living in illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, such as Chaim Marcus who lives in Gush Etzion. In this case, Marcus was also a member of the Israeli military, on “the front lines”, in October 2023. Camp Moshava Ennismore also hired a “Duvdevan IDF commander” and his wife in 2023 for “special programming.”
• The Harry Bronfman Y Country Camp (YCC) honours Yom HaZikaron, a remembrance day for Israeli soldiers. The YCC leadership team also travelled to Israel in April 2025. While there, they met with “IDF Major (res.) Gilad Kabilow” and “discussed the intersection of politics and defense intelligence in Israel.”
• Camp Timberlane has posted at least one photo with a member of the Israeli military in Israel. They are part of OneFamily Canada which actively fundraises for “war relief”efforts. (The Director of Camp Timberlane, Corey Mandell, also appears to be close with Doug Ford).
• Meanwhile, Camp Massad Canada posted a reel which included a poster that read “I ♥️ IDF”.

The CRA must investigate these charities for breaches of s. 11 of the Foreign Enlistment Act, support of a foreign military, and racism / discrimination.

Sanction the World Zionist Organization

While the world has been focused on Trump’s Gaza Plan, the occupied West Bank faces an existential threat. Violent settler attacks on Palestinians across the West Bank have drastically increased this past olive harvest season, while the Israeli government has doubled down on settlement expansion and continues to take perilous steps toward annexation. Settler outposts continue to rapidly expand, stealing the land base necessary for the future Palestinian state that Canada says it supports.

These outposts are supported by the World Zionist Organization’s (WZO) Settlement Division. For over 125 years the WZO has been dedicated to the colonization Palestine and the erasure of the Palestinian people. The current deadly practices of its Settlement division are just the most recent abuses in their sordid history aiming to steal all Palestinian land.

Join our campaign calling on Minister Anand to sanction the WZO by sending an email now.

Canada Soccer must take action to comply with its by-laws and international legal obligations

Email the Canada Soccer Board to demand action immediately!

In April 2026, a letter was sent to the Board of Canada Soccer, demanding they take action to ensure the Israel Football Association (IFA) is suspended from FIFA. The first letter, from Just Peace Advocates, ICJP Canada, and Al-Haq, was sent to Canada Soccer through Board President Augruso, detailing Canada Soccer’s responsibility under the statutory provisions applicable to it through various soccer regulations and international law. The second letter, from 270+ legal experts, journalists, healthcare workers, etc., was sent directly to Board Vice President Bérubé, whose “passion for human rights is matched only by his passion for soccer”, says Canada Soccer. We specifically sent Bérubé a letter based on his history with the UN Human Rights Commission and his “sustained commitment to the rights of people with disabilities” which garnered him two honorary doctorates.

The IFA must be suspended and expelled from FIFA and the UEFA. This is not the first time FIFA would be taking such an action. South Africa was suspended from FIFA in 1961 and the South Africa Football Association was expelled from FIFA in 1976. FIFA must be held accountable for the failure to follow their own policies, to begin demanding they suspend the IFA. FIFA, the UEFA, and Canada Soccer also all took swift action against Russia in the wake of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Israel, the IFA, and its players are in grave violation of FIFA Statutes, the FIFA Human Rights Policy, and international law.

To date, Israel has killed an estimated 680,000 Palestinians in Gaza since October 2023. This figure does not account for deaths or injuries the Israeli army or its settlers have inflicted on Palestinians in the West Bank.

In Gaza, Israel has killed at least 724 athletes, including 402 soccer players, of which 103 were children. For instance, Israel killed 10 teammates from the Al-Mohtarifin Football Academy in Gaza City.

Israel also killed former Palestine national team player Suleiman Al-Obaid, known as the “Palestinian Pelé”, while waiting for humanitarian aid. Ismail Abu Dan, another prominent Palestinian soccer player was killed while waiting in line for food. In many cases, such as that of Mohammed and Mahmoud Khalifa, football players were killed alongside their entire families when Israel bombed their homes. Israel has also destroyed 288 sports and scouting facilities in Palestine.

Israel’s ongoing genocide is a mass disabling event. It is incongruent for individuals like the Vice President of Canada Soccer Paul-Claude Bérubé,to claim to support disabled people, while staying silent while hundreds of thousands of individuals are disabled through targeted armed violence. Further, Israel’s mass disablement is not isolated to the last two years.It is an integral part of Israel's occupation and apartheid system. For instance, in 2018, the Palestinian Amputee Football Association was founded after Israel intentionally disabled thousands of young people in the Great March of Return protests. The "Israeli military instituted a shoot-to-maim policy, causing more than 6,000 injuries, mostly to the lower limbs."

Palestinian Football Association (PFA) personnel are working under impossible conditions. Israeli Foreign Minister Katz publicly threatened the President of the PFA with imprisonment for exercising rights under FIFA Statutes and requesting an item to be placed on agenda. General Secretary of the PFA and other administrators have been detained and questioned by the Israeli military when travelling with the team for international matches. The Israeli military fires gas bombs at the Headquarters of the PFA on a weekly basis for no reason.

FIFA and Canada Soccer are not only accountable to their own legal regulations, but to international law. In relation to entities such as FIFA, the International Court of Justice explicitly stated that international organizations are under a duty not to recognize as legal or render aid or assistance for the situation arising from the unlawful presence of Israel in the oPt.

Contrary to the clear position of international legal institutions on parameters of international law, FIFA continues to render aid and assistance to the IFA, recognise its illegal settlement clubs by including them into the pyramid structure of global soccer together with Canadian clubs, leagues, and federation, thereby assisting in normalisation of life in illegal settlements. According to Human Rights Watch, FIFA contributes towards illegal occupation and colonisation of Palestine by bolstering illegal settlements and is “sponsoring games on a seized land.”

Therefore, we demand that Canada Soccer:

• Publicly demands and invests efforts to ensure that FIFA suspend the IFA, Israeli clubs, and those players that engaged in hate speech and/or are soldiers and reservists in the Israeli military.
• Refuses to host the 2026 World Cup in good faith while the IFA remains a Member of FIFA.
• Refuses to play any matches against the Israeli national team.
• Ends any and all financial support for the IFA. Further, if Canada Soccer has financially supported the IFA in any way (e.g., sponsorships), Canada Soccer must make reparations to the Palestinian communities affected by this sponsorship.

Upcoming Events

Za’atar & Belonging: Food, Culture and Palestinian Memory | June 20

Date & Location
📅 June 20, 2026
⏰ 3:00 PM
📍HAKKA HOUSE, 103A-180 Keefer St, Inside Chinatown Plaza Mall

About
This workshop, hosted by Nazmi Kamal, explores the tangible and symbolic significance of za’atar on the Palestinian table. More than just a herb blend, za’atar carries deep cultural meaning and a strong connection to Palestinian life, memory, and land. During our time together, we will share stories about its history and relevance, followed by a hands-on session where participants will prepare their own za’atar mix to take home. All ingredients and utensils will be provided.

Flood FIFA for Palestine | June 20

Date & Location
📅 June 20, 2026
⏰ 4:00 PM
📍Creekside Park, by Science World (xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh & səlilwətaɬ lands)

🇵🇸 Bring flags & wear keffiyehs

⚽ We call upon all football fans and residents across the Lower Mainland to join us in flooding FIFA with flag-waving for Palestine. Let’s not drop the ball during FIFA! We will continue to act against Israel’s genocidal settler-colonial regime, as well as condemn Canada and FIFA's ongoing complicity in genocide and displacement locally and globally.

FIFA recently proposed a normalization match between "Israel" and Palesine, FIFA has been silent on Israel's killing of over 430 Palestinian football players, and FIFA refused to sanction Israel over Israeli clubs illegally operating in the West Bank.

🇵🇸 If you love soccer/football but are angry at the actions of FIFA, then join us to stand for Palestine. We will be proudly waving the flag of Palestine! As the world comes together for the love of football, we also come together for Palestine and for all people against empire & profit.

Queer Cinema for Palestine | June 23

Date & Location
📅 June 23, 2026
⏰ 7:00 - 9:00 PM
📍SFU Harbour Centre, 515 West Hastings Street, Room 1700 (Labatt Hall)

About
Join us to watch the Queer Cinema for Palestine 2026 programming! QCP is a solidarity initiative that uses art to oppose the ongoing violence of israeli occupation and apartheid against Palestinians. This year’s event is co-organized by Queer Cinema for Palestine and the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI), and features over 300 screenings in nearly 60 countries.

Burin Solidarity Kite Flying and Picnic | July 5

Date & Location
📅 July 5, 2026
⏰ 1-3 pm
📍 1455 Quebec Street, next to Science World
🎟️ Reserve your kite for $10! Or bring your own kite! Or just bring your family and a picnic and enjoy the kite-filled skies!

About
🪁 We warmly invite all families and community members to join us for the Burin Solidarity Kite Flying and Picnic on July 5 2026, at Creekside Park! Join us as we fill the skies with calls for liberation and self-determination for all oppressed and colonized peoples, from Turtle Island to Palestine! This solidarity event is a response to the global call from Palestinians in Burin who are holding their annual kite festival in staunch defiance and joyful resistance of Israel’s ongoing genocide, ethnic cleansing and apartheid.

Proudly co-sponsored by Apartheid-Free Communities, Parents4Palestine, Ismailis for Palestine, and IJV-Vancouver.

Press Conference & Die In | July 6

Date & Location
📅 July 6, 2026
⏰ 4:00 PM
📍Vancouver City Hall, 453 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, BC

About
On July 6th, health care workers in the Greater Vancouver area will gather outside of Vancouver City Hall at 4 pm for a press conference and a die in to raise awareness about the slaughtered and abducted health care workers in Palestine. Since Fall of 2023, there were 400 Palestinian health care workers who were kidnapped by the IOF, 83 of them are still being tortured in Israeli prisons like Dr. Hussam Abu Safieh. Some of whom were murdered in prison under torture, like Dr. Adnan Al Bursh. We will be joined by MP Don Davies, the leader of the BC Greens: Emily Lowan, and Senator Yuenpao Woo.

Tall Mary, ?NUMB?DAME?, Cowabummer, Strays | July 12

Date & Location
📅 July 12, 2026
⏰ 7:00 PM
📍Green Auto, 1822 Pandora St, Vancouver, BC V5L 1M5

About
A night of punk, emo, and noise rock raising money for Palestine. Door 7, music 7:30, tickets $15 presale $20 at door. The genocide continues and Palestinians need our help. Half of proceeds go to the Elham Fund (@elhamfund), the other half directly to families in Gaza. Performing are ?Numb?Dame?, Tall Mary, Strays, and Cowabummer.

Wisdom in Food Systems: Rebuilding Right Relations to Land and Life | July 22

Date & Location
📆 Wednesday, July 22
⏰ 5:30pm doors open | 6:00pm Land Acknowledgement & Opening by Elder Jim
📍Trinity Grace United Church, 803 E 16th Ave, Vancouver

About
Apartheid Free Communities & OLIVE Collective, one of our AFC signatories, are hosting our 6th AFCafe on July 22nd! In conversation about remembering and rebuilding beyond colonial and capitalist food systems, we are honoured to have Elder Jim Leyden, an Indigenous land defender and knowledge keeper of Anishinaabe and Irish-Italian ancestry, and Izzedin Bukhari, a Jerusalem-based Palestinian chef, storyteller, and founder of Sacred Cuisine.

Join our 6th AFCafe for this thought-provoking and insightful discussion alongside a plant-based meal (Mariam’s Lebanese Cuisine) and good company. Proceeds will go into covering the costs of the event. Anything beyond expenses will be donated to Wilp Aasosxw (dog sanctuary on the Gitxsan Lax’yip) and Plant the Land (food justice and mutual aid work in Gaza).

Community Spotlights

Help Us Feed & Support Our Families in Gaza

Dear Friends and Supporters,

We are reaching out today with immense gratitude for every single one of you who has donated, shared, and stood by our family during this unimaginable time. Because of your kindness, we have been able to send vital lifelines back home to Gaza.

But the crisis is far from over, and the daily struggle for survival has only intensified.

The Reality on the Ground Right Now:

High Prices: The cost of basic food, clean water, and transportation remains completely out of reach. Inflation and scarcity mean that even the simple meals require high financial support.

Critical Lack of Medicine: For our family—especially Isaac’s mother, as she continues her brave battle against cancer and waits for medical evacuation—purchasing essential medications, painkillers, and vitamins is a daily financial hurdle.

Constant Displacements: With families living in temporary shelters and paying high rent, every day is a battle against harsh conditions.

We cannot stop now. We have stretched our own resources to the absolute limit, and our family is entirely reliant on this community's generosity to survive.

Every single dollar has a direct, tangible effect. Even a small donation can buy a meal, a clean bottle of water, or a dose of much-needed medication for a child or an elderly relative.

If you cannot donate today, please take one minute to share our link with your friends, family, or workplace. Keeping our story visible is just as powerful as a donation.

Thank you for refusing to look away. Thank you for helping us keep our family alive.

With deep love and gratitude,
Nariman & Isaac.

Book Club

The Tale of a Wall by Nasser Abu Srour

This week’s recommendation comes from reader D who has been getting into The Tale of a Wall: Reflections on the Meaning of Hope and Freedom. She says ‘It’s incredible… Pure poetry the way he writes, so heartbreaking and beautiful and devastating!’ 

Nasser Abu Srour grew up in a refugee camp in the West Bank, on the outskirts of Bethlehem. As a child, he played in its shadow and explored the little world within the camp. As he grew older, he began questioning the boundaries that limited his existence. Later, sentenced to life in prison, with no hope of parole, he found himself surrounded by a physical wall. 

This is the story of how, over thirty years in captivity, he crafted a new definition of freedom. Turning to writings by philosophers as varied as Derrida, Kirkegaard and Freud, he begins to let go of freedom as a question that demanded an answer, in order to preserve it as a dream. The wall becomes his stable point of reference, his anchor, both physically and psychologically.