Many events in Canada will mark 1 year since Hamas attacked Israel – National
Ceremonies, events and protests are being held across Canada on Monday to mark the anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel that sparked the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
The attack on October 7, 2023 killed more than 1,200 Israelis, and 250 others were captured and held hostage, which started the war with Israel in Gaza where the Ministry of Health says it has left more than 41,000 dead.
The conflict has had far-reaching consequences around the world and in Canada, including families grieving for their slain relatives, hundreds of protests that have led to arrests, the establishment of pro-Palestinian camps at universities and increased reports of hate crimes against Jews and Muslims.
In one year, police in major Canadian cities have stepped up security, especially at Jewish and Muslim places of worship and at events held to commemorate Oct. 7.
Jewish groups across the country held events in cities including Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver to mourn the victims of the attack and demand the return of the kidnappers.
Meanwhile, several demonstrations are also planned to show solidarity with the Palestinian people, including one in Montreal, which is said to support the Palestinian fight for “total freedom.”
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“This coming Monday, we will take over the streets of Montreal in solidarity with our Palestinian brothers and sisters,” said the group Montreal4Palestine in an Instagram post promoting the event.
“We will renew our support for the struggle and continue to support the freedom struggle by any means necessary.”
Meanwhile, groups that organized a month-long camp on McGill University’s downtown campus last spring and summer are planning a walkout and march from Concordia University to McGill on Monday afternoon.
The group wanted McGill to stop investing in companies held by the Israeli military and cut ties with Israeli institutions.
A vigil organized by Jewish groups is also planned for Monday afternoon at the main gates of McGill’s downtown campus.
McGill is restricting access to its campuses on Mondays, and most classes will be held online.
A Quebec Superior Court judge also granted an interim injunction to the other parties, ordering them not to block access to Concordia or disrupt any sections.
Montreal police and other law enforcement agencies across Canada said they are increasing their presence ahead of Oct. 7.
Vancouver police chief Const. Adam Palmer says organized and unplanned protests across the city pose a “significant” risk of disruption, and police are being deployed for large-scale events.
The pro-Palestinian group Samidoun, which refers to the October 7 attack as the “Al-Aqsa Flood,” a Hamas code name for the operation, is organizing a rally in Vancouver.
Toronto police say there have been more than 1,500 protests across the city since last October, with 72 protest-related arrests, and 350 reports of hate speech so far this year, which the chief says is a 40 percent increase since last. a year. Hate crimes against the city’s Jewish residents have increased by 69 percent, he added.
Rallies and demonstrations were held around the world the weekend before October 7, including major events in European cities and marches and vigils in Canada.
While in Paris on Saturday for the Francophonie conference, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reiterated calls for a ceasefire in the Middle East.
Israel also recently went after several Hezbollah targets in the suburbs of Beirut in Lebanon and began to penetrate the ground. Airstrikes have hit a Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon as Israel targets Hezbollah and Hamas fighters.
Iran, which supports and finances both Hamas and Hezbollah, launched at least 180 ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday.
© 2024 The Canadian Press
