Protesters in front of the Art Hauser Centre in Prince Albert Saturday evening as Canada played Israel in the Men's World Softball Championships. (Susan McNeil/paNOW)

By Susan McNeil

Protest

Small group protests at Canada vs Israel softball game in Prince Albert

Jul 13, 2024 | 8:34 PM

A small group of pro-Palestinian protestors waved flags and signs and chanted through blow horns as Team Israel played Team Canada at the WBSC Mens Softball World Cup Group B Qualifiers on Saturday night.

The protestors, who would not show their faces or give their names, confirmed they often demonstrate on 2nd Avenue and 15th Street in Prince Albert.

They said they came to the softball game because the tournament committee had told them the event is focussed on sport and is not political. But the protestors found posts on the Israel Softball Association’s Facebook page that pictures a team softball in front of a tank and other military equipment.

“We came here because we saw that Team Israel is coming here and then we also saw that they put on their official Facebook page, pictures of baseballs in front of tanks,” said one man.

The dates on the photos show they were posted in October 2023.

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There was an increased police presence surrounding Prime Minister’s Park during the softball game, but the crowd and the players seemed unphased by the protestors.

It was reported Saturday that 90 people were killed in an Israeli attack in southern Gaza.

The Gaza Health Ministry said 289 others were injured in the attack that struck the Khan Younis area.

Israel launched its campaign in Gaza after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack in which militants stormed into southern Israel, killed some 1,200 people — mostly civilians — and abducted about 250.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com