A leaked Toronto Police Service (TPS) operational guide for officers policing the recent Nakba Day protests has ignited fierce backlash after it described Israel’s creation in 1948 as “ethnic cleansing” of Palestinians, a characterization widely rejected by the Jewish community and many experts as a gross distortion of history.
The document, intended to prepare officers for the May 15 Nakba Day demonstrations, states as fact that the Nakba commemorates “the ethnic cleansing of Palestine starting on May 15th, 1948,” and details the displacement of Palestinians during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. However, it omits crucial context, such as the simultaneous expulsion of over one million Jews from Arab countries and the fact that the war was initiated by Arab states rejecting the establishment of Israel.
Jewish police officers and community members have expressed shock and dismay at the guide’s language, which many say mirrors Hamas propaganda and undermines the TPS’s claim of neutrality. One Jewish TPS officer told the Toronto Sun that “using talking points indistinguishable from the terrorist organization that carried out the October 7 attacks to educate officers demonstrates leadership’s indifference, if not complicity, in promoting a harmful narrative.”
The Toronto Police Service defended the document, with spokesperson Stephanie Sayer stating, “As part of our planning process, we often include publicly available descriptions of events, compiled from a range of sources. These references are for operational awareness only and do not reflect any position held by the Toronto Police Service.”
Despite this, critics argue the guide contributes to a two-tier policing approach, where pro-Palestinian, and sometimes pro-Hamas, protests are policed with leniency, while Jewish counter-protesters face arrests. During the Nakba Day demonstrations, only Jewish counter-protesters were reportedly arrested, raising further concerns about bias.
Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw has faced calls from within the force and the community to address these issues more decisively. Sources reveal tensions between Jewish and Muslim officers over the handling of protests and the messaging from TPS leadership.
City officials and politicians have also weighed in. While some have urged calm and dialogue, Jewish community leaders have demanded a thorough review of TPS training materials and operational guides to ensure balanced, fact-based policing that respects the complexity of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and protects Jewish residents from rising antisemitism.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Toronto issued a statement condemning the police document’s language as “deeply troubling and offensive,” emphasizing the need for law enforcement to maintain impartiality and to reject narratives that fuel division and hatred.
This controversy unfolds amid heightened tensions in Toronto, where large Nakba Day protests have coincided with increased antisemitic incidents, including harassment and violence against Jewish individuals and institutions.
As the city grapples with these challenges, the Jewish community calls for stronger leadership from TPS and municipal authorities to ensure the safety of all residents and to uphold truth and fairness in public discourse.
This article is based on verified reports from the Toronto Sun and statements from the Toronto Police Service and Jewish community representatives.