Ontario school protests Gaza war on Remembrance Day by playing Palestinian Arabic anthem

For its Remembrance Day gathering Monday, an Ottawa school chose to play a Palestinian protest tune, sung in Arabic, that has become associated with the Gaza war. It was the only song played as students watched a slide presentation honoring Canada’s wartime sacrifice at Sir Robert Borden School.

The song was Haza Salam by Mahim Ahmed. The title is usually translated as “This is Peace” and it was reportedly released in the months after the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, according to the National Post.

The school’s choice of music offended many students and parents, with some Jewish students complaining to the school’s principal. It was played three times because the program ran three times, with different-aged students attending each one.

For many, the song appeared not just controversial but inappropriate for a Remembrance Day school commemoration. “It is hard to believe I’m hearing this at an assembly in Canada for Remembrance Day,” said a student who asked to remain anonymous because of concerns that other students might object. "It was weird. I was confused. What is this song saying?”

Principal Aaron Hobbs tried to justify the choice of the song by appealing to diversity, equity and inclusion and slamming a typical veteran as “a white guy who has done something related to the military,” according to the Post. Apparently, he had to rethink that assessment after a “closed-door meeting” and Hobbs emerged to send an apologetic email to the school’s staff, students and parents.

“It has come to my attention that the inclusion of the song ‘Haza Salam’ in the program caused significant distress to some members of our school community. For this, I would like to offer my apologies,” Hobbs wrote.

“We acknowledge that Remembrance Day is a solemn occasion, where the focus should remain on honoring those who have sacrificed their lives for the freedoms we hold dear. The inclusion of a song that could be seen as politically charged was not in line with the values of respect and unity that we strive to uphold at this school.”

Some parents told the Post that they can’t understand the school’s decision. “There was only one song. There were no other ethnic songs, or other songs, just one. It was played three times,” said a parent of a student who attends Robert Borden “They chose an Arabic song about peace for Gaza as the only song to play for a Remembrance Day service.”

A Jewish parent told the outlet, "No one would allow a song in Hebrew to be played, even if it was called Shalom, at a Canadian Remembrance Day ceremony. It should have been a song in English or French or an Indigenous language. How did Arabic become an official language of Canada"