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An aid centre in Gaza has been named in memory of Vivian Silver, a peace activist from Winnipeg who was tragically killed during the Hamas attack on Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7, 2023.
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Silver was born and raised in Winnipeg, but lived in Israel in the 1970s. The centre, located in the Zomi displaced people’s camp, serves as a community space and kitchen, recognizing her life-long work toward peace in the region.
Silver, who moved to Israel in 1974, was known for advocating for peaceful solutions to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. She co-founded Women Wage Peace, a grassroots movement focused on peaceful dialogue and was involved with the Road to Recovery, a project that transported Palestinians from Gaza to Israeli hospitals for medical care.
The centre was named by Clean Shelter, a German aid group, and operates with support from other organizations, including the Palestinian group Damour for Community Development and UNICEF. A sign bearing Silver’s name and image now stands at the camp, symbolizing her commitment to peace and humanitarian work.
In the Times of Israel, Tahani Abu Daqqa, a member of the board of Damour for Community Development, said when people who use the centre in Gaza ask about Silver, “We tell people who she was.” “She worked very hard for peace,” Daqqa said.
The naming of the centre is a testament to the respect she earned for her work in the region, and it serves as a reminder of her efforts to improve the lives of those affected by the ongoing conflict. The gesture also highlights her belief that collaboration is essential to achieving lasting peace and security.
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