Commitments
Pillars
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Photo by Ash Hayes
Ontario Palestinian Rights Association (OPRA) is a Palestine solidarity group comprising of various civil society members that advocate for the liberation of Palestine and Palestinians from under the illegal occupation and zionist settler colonial project known as “Israel”.
We advocate for Palestinian’s Right of Return, Restoration of Palestinian Lands, and Protection of Future Generations. We do this by contributing to movement building, civil society initiatives – such as BDS, letter writing campaigns, educational awareness, etc. We often collaborate with other solidarity groups to achieve more effective outcomes and build stronger solidarity networks.
Our Mission
Our struggle is rooted in a deep commitment to justice, human rights, and the fundamental dignity of the Palestinian people. OPRA stands in unwavering solidarity with Palestinians in their quest for their right of return, the restoration of their lands, and the protection of their future generations. We express our full support for an apartheid-free and liberated historic Palestine, where Palestinians are able to return to their ancestral homes and live in freedom. At the heart of this struggle is the recognition that Palestinians, as an indigenous people, have a historic and undeniable connection to the land of Palestine—one that has been systematically denied through displacement, occupation, and dispossession, which have taken the forms of Apartheid and Genocide.
As a solidarity group, OPRA stands resolutely behind the right of Palestinians to resist colonial occupation in all forms, from nonviolent actions like Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) to armed struggle. Resistance is a fundamental right of all peoples under occupation, and we believe that the Palestinian fight for freedom and justice must be met with global solidarity.
We believe that the fight for justice cannot be won in isolation. It requires a collective effort, grounded in the strength of interconnected solidarities—building coalitions across local, national, and international movements. By joining forces, we can amplify Palestinian voices, hold oppressive systems accountable, and push for a world where justice, peace, and human dignity are more than just talking points.
The struggle is not just about securing rights for today, but also about securing a better, freer future for tomorrow—especially for Palestinian children. The ongoing violence and trauma inflicted upon the youngest members of Palestinian society represent both a grave injustice and a moral imperative for us to act. Their future, and the future of Palestine itself, depend on the actions we take today.
We recognize that the Palestinian cause is a critical part of the fight against colonialism, apartheid, and oppression in all its forms. By standing in solidarity with Palestinians, we stand against the systems that perpetuate inequality, dispossession, and violence worldwide. We recognize that the liberation of Palestine is intrinsically linked to the liberation of all peoples, and we pledge to continue this struggle with the understanding that the path to justice for Palestine is also the path to justice for the world.
Our Commitments
The Land
Palestinian Indigeneity
Our mission is grounded in the unwavering belief that the right of return for all Palestinians is a fundamental and inalienable right—one that is deeply tied to the Palestinian people’s historical, cultural, and spiritual connection to their ancestral lands. The displacement of Palestinians over the past century has been a violation of both international law and the fundamental rights of an indigenous population. The land of Palestine is not merely a geographic location but the heart of Palestinian identity, heritage, and self-determination.
The right of return is not just a political demand—it is a critical step toward addressing the ongoing injustice of dispossession and the denial of Palestinian sovereignty. For Palestinians, returning to their homes is a matter of restoring what was taken, healing historical wounds, and reaffirming their connection to a land that has been theirs for millennia. We express our full support for the right of return in all of historic Palestine, understanding that this is not just a matter of returning to individual homes, but the reclamation of Palestinian sovereignty, dignity, and identity.
The land of Palestine is also central to the liberation of the Palestinian people. We are steadfast in our belief that true justice for Palestinians cannot be achieved without the full liberation of Palestine. This includes the restoration of all of Palestine to its rightful inhabitants and an end to colonial and apartheid systems that seek to deny this fundamental right.
Interconnected Solidarities
Coalition-building for Justice
We recognize that achieving justice for Palestinians requires collective action on a global scale. Our work is focused on building interconnected solidarity by forging coalitions primarily between local and national organizations in Canada but also with the broader international movements for Palestine. We collaborate with Palestinian organizations and solidarity groups, human rights defenders, labor unions, and justice movements to create a unified front for advocacy and action.
We also recognize that resistance to colonial occupation is not one-dimensional. Palestinians have the right to resist in all forms, from nonviolent protests and BDS campaigns to armed struggle against their oppressors /occupiers. This resistance is essential to the ongoing fight for self-determination, and it must be supported through our collective efforts. By pooling our resources, knowledge, and networks, we can amplify our collective voice and apply strategic pressure on governments, corporations, and international institutions to uphold Palestinian rights and challenge the systems of occupation, apartheid, and colonialism.
Our work with local movements is empowered through grassroots organizing and education, while national and international efforts focus on advocating for policy change and holding governments accountable for their complicity in the occupation.
In this interconnected struggle, we seek to ensure that the Palestinian cause is integrated into the broader fight for justice, equality, and anti-colonialism, recognizing that the oppression of Palestinians is part of a wider system of global injustices. Through solidarity, mutual support, and collective action, we strive to create a more just world for all peoples.
The Future
Protecting Palestinian Children and the Generations to Come
Our commitment to justice extends to the future of Palestine—especially to its children, who are the heart of the resistance and the key to a better tomorrow. Palestinian children face daily violence, displacement, and the destruction of their homes, schools, and communities. We are deeply concerned with the long-term impact of this trauma on Palestinian youth, who are denied their basic rights to education, safety, and a dignified future. We stand firm in our belief that true justice cannot be achieved without securing the rights and well-being of Palestinian children.
We advocate for the immediate end of Israeli/Zionist policies that harm Palestinian children, including arbitrary detention, military occupation, and systematic violence. The future of Palestine is also at stake in the lives of its children, who deserve to grow up in a liberated Palestine. We are committed to supporting efforts to protect Palestinian youth and ensure they inherit a future of peace and dignity.
We also support the right of Palestinian children and future generations to return to the land of their ancestors, ensuring that they are able to grow up in their homeland, free from the occupation and violence that have plagued their families for decades. Through education, activism, and international advocacy, we are committed to ensuring that the next generation of Palestinians inherit a world that respects their human rights, honors their heritage, and affirms their right to return to the land of their ancestors.
Pillars
Basis of Unity
As part of the Canadian BDS Coalition and International BDS Allies, we strongly adhere to the principles that form the coalition's Basis of Unity.
Boycott Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS)
At all levels we build relationships with solidarity movements to raise awareness and push for change through the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, with a focus on the cultural and economical boycott of "Israel", as well as their Zionist backers that support the continued genocide, apartheid and occupation of Palestine. We recognize that the BDS movement is but one strategy in supporting the Palestine struggle, which is at its most effective in conjunction with other forms of resistance. It is not an end onto itself but a means to the goal of a liberated Palestine.
Historic Palestine
Whenever we refer to Palestine as a geographic region with are referring to Historic Palestine, which stands in opposition to the fragmented territories under occupation today. The expansion of Israeli settlements, the ongoing siege of Gaza, and the division of the West Bank into cantons under Israeli control have effectively reduced Palestinian territory to isolated enclaves. Palestinians have a right to the entirety of their historical homeland before the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. This is a necessary step, especially in light of the current genocide, for achieving a just peace and ensuring Palestine's political, cultural, and national survival.
Right to Resist
Whenever we refer to Palestine as a geographic region with are referring to Historic Palestine, which stands in opposition to the fragmented territories under occupation today. The expansion of Israeli settlements, the ongoing siege of Gaza, and the division of the West Bank into cantons under Israeli control have effectively reduced Palestinian territory to isolated enclaves. Palestinians have a right to the entirety of their historical homeland before the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. This is a necessary step, especially in light of the current genocide, for achieving a just peace and ensuring Palestine's political, cultural, and national survival.
Reach Out to Us
You can get in touch with us by various channels.
Linktree
If you are interested in joining Ontario Palestinian Right Association, then please fill out the following form. We will get-in-touch within a weeks time.
Membership Form