Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights

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Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR) is a Montreal-based, student-run non-profit that organizes protests against Israel’s occupation of Palestine. It began in 1999 when two student groups at Concordia and McGill merged: the Concordia Centre for Palestinian Human Rights and the McGill Palestinian Solidarity Committee. SPHR gained attention after a protest at Concordia led to former Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceling a speech in September 2002. Rama Al-Malah is its spokesperson. In 2009, SPHR threatened civil disobedience after Canada barred British MP George Galloway from entering the country. The group has held anti-Israel rallies on campuses, especially after Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023. McGill University criticized its branch for celebrating the attack, while SPHR said its posts were about liberation, not violence. In June 2024, SPHR announced a “revolutionary youth summer program” at McGill’s lower field with activities like physical activity, Arabic language instruction, crafts, political discussions, and history lessons. A social media post showing gunmen wearing keffiyehs drew criticism from the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs and B’nai Brith Canada, and McGill’s president Deep Saini called it extremely alarming.