In a somber announcement, Canadian-Israeli peace activist Vivian Silver, 74, has been confirmed as one of the victims in the Hamas attacks on Israel that shook the world on October 7. Her son, Yonatan Zeigen, revealed that Silver’s remains were discovered more than five weeks after the assault on southern Israeli communities.
Silver, a prominent figure known for founding Women Wage Peace and the Arab-Jewish Center for Equality, Empowerment, and Cooperation, had relocated from Winnipeg to Kibbutz Be’eri near Gaza in the early 1970s. Described by the Washington Post as someone who spent “her entire adult life denouncing Israel’s treatment of Palestinians,” Silver tirelessly advocated for diplomatic solutions to the enduring Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly expressed her condolences, remembering Silver as a “proud Israeli-Canadian and lifelong advocate for peace.” She recounted meeting Silver’s son in Tel Aviv, where he described his mother as kind, generous, and selfless. The Alliance for Middle East Peace’s John Lyndon echoed these sentiments, acknowledging Silver’s aspiration for a free and peaceful Gaza with a poignant “Rest in power, Vivian.”
The news of Silver’s death has reverberated globally, with the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg expressing devastation. In a Facebook post, the federation lamented the loss of a renowned pacifist who tirelessly worked towards improving the quality of life for Palestinians. The group condemned Hamas’s terrorist attack, emphasizing the civilian nature of Silver’s tragic end.
Hamas’s assault, labeled as the worst attack on Israel in decades, resulted in the death of more than 1,200 people, predominantly civilians, and the capture of around 240 others, according to Israeli officials. The Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s military wing, announced on Monday their willingness to release up to 70 women and children held in Gaza in exchange for a five-day truce. However, they accused Israel of “procrastinating and evading” the terms of the deal, further complicating the already fraught situation in the region.
As the world mourns the loss of Vivian Silver, her legacy as a tireless advocate for peace and justice continues to inspire those committed to finding a resolution to the longstanding Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
