ManitobaA large crowd gathered at Memorial Park in Winnipeg to see the Manitoba government raise the Palestinian flag for the first time early Saturday morning — a move celebrated by the local Palestinian community, but decried by B’nai Brith Canada as an “error in judgment” by province.Raising Palestinian flag an ‘error in judgment’ by province, B’nai Brith Canada saysCBC News · Posted: Nov 15, 2025 3:58 PM EST | Last Updated: 6 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 4 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.A large group of supporters gathered at Memorial Park in Winnipeg as the Manitoba government officially raised the Palestinian flag for the first time on Saturday. (Lauren Scott/CBC) As the sun rose over Manitoba Legislature building, a large crowd gathered at Memorial Park in Winnipeg to see the Palestinian flag officially raised in Manitoba for the first time early Saturday morning. Culture and Heritage Minister Nellie Kennedy said the flag-raising — held on the anniversary of the date when the Palestinian Declaration of Independence was proclaimed in 1988 — was “a powerful statement of visibility, of resilience, and of belonging” during the 7:30 a.m. ceremony, which was attended by several provincial and federal politicians.In September, the Canadian government officially recognized Palestine as a state — a move the federal government said was intended to preserve the prospect of a two-state solution in the Middle East, despite the Israeli government’s “avowed policy” of preventing a Palestinian state from ever being established. The Manitoba government said in a statement that the province’s protocol office received a request to raise the Palestinian flag shortly after that.A large group of supporters gathered at Memorial Park in Winnipeg Saturday morning for the flag-raising. (Lauren Scott/CBC)Saturday’s flag-raising ceremony, hosted by the Canadian Palestinian Association of Manitoba, was “consistent with established practice” and in line with the office’s “mandate to recognize designated national days,” the province’s statement said. Though the Palestinian flag has been raised elsewhere, including recently outside Toronto city hall, Manitoba is believed to be the first province in Canada to raise it outside its legislature building to mark the anniversary of the Palestinian declaration of independence, said Sadaf Ahmed, the Manitoba advocacy officer with the National Council of Canadian Muslims during the ceremony.”This act affirms the Palestinian people’s sovereignty, their right to self-determination,” Ahmed said. Canadian Palestinian Association of Manitoba president Ramsey Zeid, who has long advocated for Palestine’s official recognition, said it was an “emotional, proud day” to see the flag — which he says “represents survival, steadfastness and an unbroken will to be free” — waving across from the legislature building. Ramsey Zeid, president of the Canadian Palestinian Association of Manitoba, says he felt a deep sense of pride and joy as the flag was raised. (Rudi Pawlychyn/CBC)”This is a moment that I’ve dreamt about, but I never thought would happen,” Zeid said. “Seeing the amount of people here just filled me with joy. The amount of pride and joy I feel right now is something I haven’t felt in a long time,” he said. Bassam Hozaima, a member of the Palestinian community in Winnipeg, said the flag-raising was a “small victory” for Palestinians, with much work yet to be done. Bassam Hozaima, a member of the Palestinian community in Winnipeg, says the flag-raising is a ‘little victory.’ (Lauren Scott/CBC)”I feel joy and a bit of pride about seeing the flag fluttering in front of the legislature here, but we have a long way to go still,” said Hozaima. “The Palestinian flag, for me, has come to represent the struggle for justice and for freedom, not just for the Palestinians but for people across the world.”WATCH | Palestinian flag raised in Manitoba:Palestinian flag officially raised in Manitoba for 1st timeA large group of supporters gathered at Winnipeg’s Memorial Park, across from the Manitoba Legislature, as the Palestinian flag was officially raised in the province for the first time Saturday morning.’Deleterious impact on Jewish Manitobans’: B’nai BrithThe push to recognize a Palestinian state has seen increased momentum since the Israel-Hamas war broke out in the region more than two years ago.The latest conflict began on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostage. Since then, more than 69,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza health officials.The event in Winnipeg was met with criticism by Jewish advocacy group B’nai Brith Canada, which called the flag raising an “error in judgment” by the province. In a statement posted to social media, the group said raising the Palestinian flag “will have a deleterious impact on Jewish Manitobans who are already suffering through an unprecedented rise in antisemitism.”B’nai Brith levied similar concerns about the Toronto flag-raising earlier this week. The statement said the flag-raising will “undermine Manitoba’s commitment to treating inclusion as a fundamental philosophy.”It said B’nai Brith Canada has raised those concerns with provincial officials and has contacted Premier Wab Kinew’s office.With files from Lauren Scott
‘Emotional, proud day’ for Winnipeg’s Palestinian community as province raises flag for 1st time
