Ottawa residents with family in the Middle East are anxiously watching developments in the region and hoping the recently struck ceasefire holds. “It’s not easy,” said Joseph Elkhoury who has family in Beirut and wants to see Lebanon included in the ceasefire deal between the United States and Iran. “I hope it’s included but the situation in Lebanon is difficult. It’s complicated…even if there’s a ceasefire there, there’s always something going on.” Lebanon continues to reel from Wednesday’s Israeli air strikes that claimed the lives of more than 300 people—the deadliest day of the conflict so far. The U.S. and Israel insist Lebanon is not included in the ceasefire while mediator Pakistan says it is. Shahram Golestaneh, the director of the Iran Democratic Association says the ceasefire is “welcome news, but it is fragile.” “I don’t think that in the long term we would have peace with this regime. The regime has to be overthrown, but it will not be toppled by foreign war or foreign intervention,” Golestaneh said. “I hope that in any circumstances, whether the ceasefire hold or not, the civilians and the civilian infrastructure are protected.” Outrage over the bombing saw people in Ottawa take to the streets Wednesday night in front of the U.S. Embassy in protest. The Iranian community is holding another protest on Saturday at 1 p.m. starting at the U.S. Embassy.
