Free Free Palestine:

Resources, Supports, and Action Items

New to the Palestinian Solidarity Movement, or unsure how to “join”? You’re not alone.

Getting started doesn’t mean knowing everything. It means choosing to care deeply and act anyway, and remembering that solidarity is a practice. This isn’t about being perfect - it’s about being present, and refusing to look away. Free Palestine is a movement for liberation, for justice, for all of us.

If you're just beginning, you're so welcome here. There’s room for you in this movement.🍉🇵🇸

A display of postcards and stickers on a table featuring various designs promoting Palestine, including phrases like 'Free Palestine' and illustrations such as birds, flowers, and traditional symbols. A sign invites people to 'Sign a Postcard for Palestine' with additional information.

First Steps: Action Items

  • One of the most effective ways to push for change is to directly contact your elected officials. Every call and email adds to the pressure for Canada to take meaningful action for Palestine.

    Who to Contact:

    • Your Member of Parliament (MP): Find your MP’s name and contact info here: House of Commons – Find Your MP

    • Minister of National Defence Anita Anand

      • Phone: 613-996-3374

      • Email: Anita.Anand@parl.gc.ca

    What to Say (sample script):

    Hello, my name is [Your Name], and I am a constituent in [City/Postal Code]. I am calling to urge you to demand an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, an end to all arms sales to Israel, and full humanitarian access. Canada must stop enabling war crimes and stand up for international law. Please use your position to call for peace and justice for Palestinians.

    Tips:

    • Be polite but firm.

    • If you call, leave a voicemail if no one answers.

    • Send a follow-up email to reinforce your message.

    Every single voice matters. When MPs and ministers receive a flood of calls and emails, they know their constituents are watching.

  • Learn about the BDS movement – Boycott, Divest, and Sanctions (learn more at bdsmovement.net) – and start boycotting companies that support genocide.

    You can start by getting a boycotting app like “Boycat”, or use the website “Disoccupied” → both provide easy ways to check companies and goods before you buy.

  • From individuals like Bisan Owda (@wizard_bisan1) - who reports directly from Gaza - to groups like Palestinian Youth Movement (@pymtoronto) - there are countless ways to stay updated. (See below for a list of Palestinian accounts + people to follow)

  • Haven’t made it out to a protest yet? It can feel intimidating if it’s outside your comfort zone - especially if you’re planning to go alone. But you’re not alone: you can always join up with the Mamas at any march, or email us if you’d like a protest buddy!

    We’re all for getting comfortable with protesting, marching, attending actions - we’re in this for the long haul!

  • Visibility of the Palestinian cause is one of the easiest ways to support and uplift the movement.

    Wear your keffiyeh, watermelon pins, Mamas 4 Palestine shirt! Not only does it show that the movement for a Free Palestine is everywhere and it isn’t going away, it also allows us to spread hope, connect, and keep each other safe.

  • Support Palestinian-owned restaurants, bookstores, brands, and creative work - check Watermelon Maps for local Pro Palestine businesses and services.

    Where we put our money and energy matters!

How is Canada complicit in the Genocide in Gaza?

Canada has consistently supported policies that uphold and defend Israel’s decades-long occupation, apartheid, and now the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Canada continues to:

  • Provide military contracts, weapons parts, and technology that fuel Israel’s war machine.

  • Offer political cover by voting against Palestinian rights at the United Nations and failing to call for a permanent ceasefire.

  • Criminalize and stigmatize Palestinian solidarity within Canada, from banning peaceful protests to targeting organizations that advocate for justice.

  • Fail to protect families through IRCC’s visa programs - design and run “humanitarian” pathways that are slow, securitized, and bureaucratic, leaving relatives trapped, separated, and at risk while Canada hides behind screening and excuses.

By doing so, Canada is not a neutral bystander - it is directly complicit in Israel’s violence against the Palestinian people. Naming this complicity is a first step; acting against it is the responsibility of all of us.

Resources + Supports

Mamas 4 Palestine actively supports and participates in the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) global campaign and encourages our community to source items in consideration of the BDS as a Palestinian-led, global movement for freedom, justice and equality. 

Below are some of our favourite resources for you to explore, and for a more comprehensive list you can also check out this resource:

Sources, Citations, & Media Masterlist for Palestine created by Paul N. Matthis.

Palestinian Liberation 101

Action + Advocacy

  • BDS Movement Guide (bdsmovement.net/get-involved) – Steps to join and support the global boycott, divestment, and sanctions campaign.

    US Campaign for Palestinian Rights (USCPR) Action Toolkit (uscpr.org) – Guides on organizing protests, lobbying, and economic activism.

    Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) – A non-profit advocacy organization promoting justice, human rights, and peace in the Middle East, with a strong focus on Palestinian rights.

    Arms Embargo Now (armsembargonow.ca/) – A coalition-led campaign demanding that Canada immediately halt arms sales and military trade with Israel. The initiative mobilizes public pressure on the Canadian government to uphold international law and end its complicity in Israeli war crimes against Palestinians.

  • Postcards for Palestine (instagram.com/Postcards_For_Palestine) Sending postcards to politicians from all over Canada for a #FreePalestine 💌🕊️🍉

    Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF) (pcrf.net) Providing medical care and humanitarian relief to Palestinian children.

Books

  • Justice for Some: Law and the Question of Palestine by Noura Erakat: This groundbreaking book examines how international law has been used both to advance and to suppress Palestinian liberation. Erakat challenges the idea that law is inherently just while also offering possibilities for resistance.

    Palestine: A Four Thousand Year History by Nur Masalha: A sweeping historical account that dismantles the myth that Palestine was a land without a people.

    The Question of Palestine by Edward Said: A seminal work that explores the Palestinian struggle through the lens of history, politics, and Western narratives.

    The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine by Rashid Khalidi: A historical and personal account of colonialism and resistance in Palestine.

    On Palestine by Noam Chomsky & Ilan Pappé: A powerful conversation on Palestinian struggles and the broader geopolitical context.

    Genocide Bad by Sim Kern: Part activist memoir, part crash course in Jewish and Palestinian history, Genocide Bad dismantles Zionist propaganda and maps a course towards collective liberation in ten unapologetic essays.

  • Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa: A multigenerational novel tracing a Palestinian family's displacement and resilience.

    Salt Houses by Hala Alyan: A lyrical family saga following the upheaval and exile of a Palestinian family over decades.

    Against the Loveless World by Susan Abulhawa: A gripping story of resistance, love, and survival through the eyes of a Palestinian woman.

  • Sitti’s Secrets by Naomi Shihab Nye: A touching story of a young girl visiting her grandmother in Palestine.

    Homeland: My Father Dreams of Palestine by Hannah Moushabeck: A tender, multigenerational story about a father sharing memories of his Palestinian homeland with his children, celebrating family, tradition, and the enduring connection to Palestine.

    Baba, What Does My Name Mean? by Rifk Ebeid: A beautifully illustrated book exploring Palestinian identity and heritage.

    Ida in the Middle by Nora Lester Murad: A middle-grade novel about a Palestinian-American girl discovering her roots and resistance.

    Where the Olive Tree Grows by Aya Ghanameh: A beautifully illustrated tale of a young girl who returns to Palestine and finds strength in her family’s history and the resilience of the land.

  • Things You May Find Hidden in My Ear: Poems from Gaza by Mosab Abu Toha

    "If I Must Die" by Refaat Alareer

    Palestinian Walks: Notes on a Vanishing Landscape by Raja Shehadeh: A poetic reflection on land, belonging, and loss.

    My Voice Sought the Wind by Susan Abulhawa: A powerful poetry collection exploring exile, resistance, and love.

    Rifqa by Mohammed El-Kurd: A fearless, urgent collection of poetry about the realities of occupation.

    Unfortunately, It Was Paradise by Mahmoud Darwish: A collection of Darwish’s essential poetry, chronicling the Palestinian experience.

  • A Child in Palestine by Naji al-Ali: A collection of cartoons featuring Handala, a symbol of Palestinian resistance.

    Palestine by Joe Sacco: A groundbreaking graphic novel about life in occupied Palestine.

    Baddawi by Leila Abdelrazaq: A graphic memoir about growing up as a Palestinian refugee.

Films

  • Jenin Jenin (2002) Directed by Muhammad Bakri (English Subtitles): A raw and unfiltered documentary capturing the devastation of the 2002 Israeli invasion of Jenin refugee camp.

    5 Broken Cameras (2011) Directed by Emad Burnat & Guy Davidi: A deeply personal documentary filmed by a Palestinian farmer about life under occupation.

    Gaza Fights for Freedom (2019) Directed by Abby Martin: A powerful documentary exposing the realities of life in Gaza and the Great March of Return

    Israelism (2023) Directed by Erin Axelman and Sam Eilertsen : When two young American Jews raised to unconditionally love Israel witness the way Israel treats Palestinians, their lives take sharp left turns.

  • Mo (2022–) Created by Mo Amer and Ramy Youssef: A heartfelt comedy-drama following Mo Najjar, a Palestinian refugee navigating life in Houston while stuck in the U.S. immigration system.

    Farha (2021) Directed by Darin J. Sallam: A gripping coming-of-age drama based on true events, Farha follows a 14-year-old Palestinian girl whose life is upended during the Nakba in 1948.

    The Present (2020) Directed by Farah Nabulsi: A short film about a father and daughter navigating Israeli checkpoints in the West Bank.

Education + Information

  • Institute for Middle East Understanding (IMEU) (imeu.org) – Providing facts and analysis on Palestine for journalists, educators, and activists.

    The Palestine Land Studies Center (palestine-studies.org) A comprehensive archive of Palestinian history, land studies, and resistance.

    Nakba Archive (nakba-archive.org) Oral history testimonies from Palestinian refugees.

    Middle East Research and Information Project (MERIP) (merip.org) Critical analysis of Middle East politics and Palestinian liberation.

  • Teach Palestine (teachpalestine.org) Lesson plans and resources for educators covering Palestinian history and current events.

    The Freedom Archives (freedomarchives.org) A collection of historical documents and recordings related to anti-colonial movements, including Palestine.

    Palestinian Feminist Collective Reading List (palestinianfeministcollective.org) A deep dive into Palestinian feminism, liberation, and resistance.

Sources to Follow

  • Bisan Owda - A Palestinian journalist from Gaza documenting life under siege with courage and resilience.

    Hind Khoudary - A journalist reporting from Gaza, amplifying Palestinian voices and realities on the ground.

    Jenan Matari - A Palestinian-American writer and activist dedicated to storytelling and advocacy for Palestine.

    Salma Shawa - A Palestinian artist and designer using creativity to celebrate Palestinian identity and resistance.

    Francesca Albanese - UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories

    Susan Abulhawa - A renowned Palestinian novelist and activist.

    Noura Erakat- A Palestinian human rights attorney and scholar, specializing in international law and Palestinian liberation.

    eye.on.palestine – Real-time updates and on-the-ground footage from Palestine.

    Mohammed el Kurd – Writer and activist sharing urgent news and political analysis.

    Palestinian Youth Movement – A global grassroots organization mobilizing for Palestinian liberation.

  • Electronic Intifada (electronicintifada.net) Independent news and analysis on Palestine.

    Mondoweiss (mondoweiss.net) US-based progressive news site covering Palestinian rights and Middle East politics.

    Middle East Eye (middleeasteye.net) In-depth reporting on Palestine and the broader Middle East.

    Al Jazeera Palestine Coverage (aljazeera.com) Extensive on-the-ground reporting on Palestinian issues.

    IMEU (Institute for Middle East Understanding) (imeu.org) Fact-based reporting and media resources on Palestine.

    Palestine Deep Dive (palestinedeepdive.com) Interviews and investigative journalism centring Palestinian voices.

    The New Arab (alaraby.co.uk) English-language coverage of Palestine and Middle East affairs.

    We Are Not Numbers (wearenotnumbers.org) A storytelling platform amplifying young Palestinian writers.

Newcomer Supports and Partnerships

  • Crisis in Gaza: Settlement services in Canada: – A network of organizations and initiatives providing support to Palestinian refugees and newcomers affected by the crisis in Gaza. These services include housing assistance, legal aid, mental health support, and community integration to help displaced Palestinians rebuild their lives in Canada.

    Crisis in Gaza: Financial assistance

    • To access free settlement services, you must have a valid temporary resident document with the “MOME2023” keyword in the remarks section at the bottom of the document.

    • Find free newcomer services near you here.

    The Nisa Foundation: Providing humanitarian aid and advocacy with a strong focus on supporting Palestinians through relief efforts, education, and empowerment initiatives.

    Mishka Social Services: A community-based organization offering mental health support, counselling, and social services, with a focus on assisting Muslim communities, including Palestinian families affected by trauma and displacement.

  • "The children are always ours, every single one of them, all over the globe; and I am beginning to suspect that whoever is incapable of recognizing this may be incapable of morality."

    James Baldwin