Ontario Federation of Labour Lends Its Support to Heal100Kids

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Aug. 4, 2014) - The Ontario Federation of Labour, representing over 1 million workers in the province, has thrown its support behind the Heal100Kids humanitarian project led by Palestinian physician Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish. The project hopes to bring 100 severely wounded children from war-torn Gaza to Canada for medical treatment.

Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish is a Palestinian physician and the author of I Shall Not Hate: A Gaza Doctor's Journey, a memoir about the loss of his three daughters and his niece to Israeli shelling in 2009. He is now based at the University of Toronto.

"I spoke to Dr. Abuelaish and thanked him personally for his remarkable efforts and inspiring commitment to peace," said OFL President Sid Ryan. "I am pleased to offer him the support of the Ontario Federation of Labour to help the children of Gaza."

The need for medical assistance is urgent. Yesterday's Gaza update from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that Palestinian children continue to bear the brunt of the crisis, with 373 killed and at least 2,744 injured. Gaza's medical services and facilities are nearing collapse, with hospitals and clinics overwhelmed.

"The OFL calls upon Prime Minister Stephen Harper to support this project fully," said OFL President Sid Ryan. "Let's get the most seriously wounded Palestinian children out of the fighting in Gaza, and give them safe passage into Canada's well-equipped hospitals, as soon as possible."

Dr. Abuelaish's humanitarian project, described on the website http://www.heal100kids.com/, is receiving widespread support. Kingston General Hospital has already said that it will accept these children, as has Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto. Tom Mulcair's NDP Official Opposition has supported the project, as well as Liberal Party Leader Justin Trudeau.