A wide cross-section of Guyanese from all walks of life is expected to take to the streets of Georgetown on Saturday, October 11th, in a mass demonstration of solidarity with the Palestinian people of Gaza. Organizers are calling the event the National Gaza Solidarity March, urging citizens “from every race, class, and creed” to participate.
The march, which will begin at the Umana Yana in Kingston at 11:00 a.m, aims to demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, an end to what organizers describe as a “horrendous genocide,” and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and all occupied Palestinian territories.
In a strongly worded statement issued ahead of the march, organisers called on all “people of conscience” to take a stand against what they allege is “a brutal programme of mass extermination and annihilation” by Israel.
“For two years now, the Israeli army — funded and supported by the US, other Western governments, and weapons companies — has been killing, maiming, torturing, and starving the people of Gaza with impunity,” the statement read. It further claims that civilian infrastructure such as homes, schools, places of worship, and hospitals have been “relentlessly bombed and destroyed.”
Citing statistics from international organisations, the statement claims that over 200,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in the past two years, with more than 20,000 children among the dead. It references a report by Save The Children International which states that “at least one Palestinian child in Gaza has been killed by Israeli forces every hour since the war began.”
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) system is also cited, warning that 132,000 Palestinian children under the age of five are at risk of dying from acute malnutrition by mid-2026 due to the blockade on food, medicine, and aid entering Gaza.
Organisers referenced two recent international rulings to bolster their claims: a 2024 ruling by the International Court of Justice that deemed Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory illegal and constitutive of apartheid, and a 2025 United Nations Independent Commission of Inquiry report that concluded the State of Israel is responsible for committing genocide in Gaza.
As international pressure continues to mount, significant diplomatic developments emerged this week. On Thursday, Israel and Hamas agreed to a tentative ceasefire, which includes the release of hostages and prisoners, and a partial withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, according to reports by The Guardian. The UN has welcomed the deal, saying it will allow for the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid and medical supplies to more than 2.1 million people in Gaza. However, key issues such as Hamas disarmament, Gaza’s long-term governance, and full military withdrawal remain unresolved
Despite the diplomatic progress, organisers of Saturday’s event say global solidarity must continue.
“Let us gather in Georgetown to join this global demand for peace, justice, and accountability and to show our solidarity with our Palestinian sisters, brothers, and their children,” the statement urged. “We must boycott, divest, sanction, and cut all economic, diplomatic, sporting, and cultural ties with the apartheid and genocidal state of Israel now!”
Saturday’s event will feature a rally both before and after the march, with participation from a wide range of civil society groups, including Indigenous representatives, environmental activists, persons with disabilities, healthcare workers, and advocates for women and girls. Interfaith leaders from Muslim, Christian, Hindu, and Rastafari communities are also expected to speak.
Participants are encouraged to bring pots, pans, and metal spoons for the march, as well as reusable water bottles to reduce plastic waste. Gathering begins at 10:00 a.m. at the Umana Yana, with the rally starting at 10:30 and the march commencing at 11:00. The march will conclude at noon, returning to the Umana Yana for a continued rally.
The event closes with a rallying cry:
“THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE IS STRONGER THAN THE PEOPLE IN POWER. AMANDLA AWETHU!
