How Gazans in Hamilton keep traditions alive while helping people in their homeland

A recent market and fundraiser showcasing Palestinian-owned businesses in Hamilton, including new start-ups by people from Gaza who now call the city home, was met with “incredible” support, organizers say.

Amy Borkwood, one of the organizers, said some of the vendors at the market moved to Hamilton from Gaza in the last two years.

The goal, organizers say, was to show Palestinians in the city, and their families in Palestine, that there are many Hamiltonians who support them and want to hear their stories.

“There's so much support for Palestine, there's so much possibility here, so [we came] up with the idea of a raffle where small businesses across Hamilton could donate an item, a service, and then we would raffle off tickets,” Borkwood told CBC Hamilton.

“We originally had a goal of raising $1,000 per recipient — we had three different recipients that are all in Gaza, one is a school and then two are families — but we ended up raising $10,000 for our three recipients, so well above what we had possibly hoped.”

More than 69,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israel-Hamas war, Gaza health officials said in November. What’s become the deadliest and most destructive war ever between Israel and Hamas, escalated with the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on southern Israel that killed about 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage, by Israeli figures. A truce has been in place since Oct. 10.

Palestinian artists and business owners, their local mentors, and community members looking to support them, gathered for the market held on Nov. 16. 

Here’s a bit more on two of those vendors:

Nedaa Eudaih, 35, moved to Hamilton with her family from the Gaza Strip in September 2014. She started Yansoona Bakery in October, baking what she describes as “a handmade Palestinian ka’ak asawer” — a small, round, date-filled treat that looks like a bracelet. Other ingredients include flour, sesame seeds and olive oil.

“It’s a special part of our heritage. The smell brings back many childhood memories,” Eudaih told CBC Hamilton.

“When we made it, we made it as a family together. Everyone has a different part to do. Some of them they prepare, some of them they bake — all of them participating.”

Noting that she’s “proud” of her background, Eudaih said she disagrees with people who have told her “there is no life in Gaza anymore” in light of what's been happening there in recent times.

“Some of them, they said to me, ‘are you planning to go back to Gaza?’ I said absolutely I'm going back, I will not be giving up on my country or my background. We belong to this country, we belong to this city,” she said.

By starting her ka’ak business, Eudaih said this was her way to help keep “our tradition” alive.