VANCOUVER โ A Scotiabank branch in Vancouver was defaced with red paint and anti-Israel slogans in what appears to be a politically motivated act of vandalism linked to ongoing anti-Israel protests.
Video verified by The J and circulating on social media shows the bankโs windows covered in graffiti accusing Scotiabank of โfunding genocideโ and other inflammatory slogans, while red paint was splattered across the buildingโs exterior.
A @scotiabank was vandalized in Vancouver with paint thrown on the side and graffiti sprayed all over its windows. pic.twitter.com/j2eYkfF5lo
— Leviathan (@l3v1at4an) June 20, 2025
The vandalism is part of a broader campaign by anti-Israel activists targeting financial institutions they claim are complicit in Israelโs military operations in Gaza. Scotiabank has been singled out by protestors for holding shares in companies such as Elbit Systems, an Israeli defense manufacturer.
Protestors allege the company is involved in war crimes, a charge repeatedly denied by Israeli officials and widely discredited in independent investigations.
โWe stand against Canada, USA, and Israel,โ shouted masked demonstrators in previous rallies linked to the same activist networks, which have staged similar protests at public institutions and commercial sites in recent months.
Scotiabank has not issued a public statement in response to the latest incident. The Vancouver Police Department has not confirmed an investigation but has addressed similar acts of vandalism in the city as potential hate-related offenses or politically motivated mischief.
Jewish advocacy groups condemned the attack. โTargeting Canadian financial institutions because they do business with Israel is part of a dangerous trend. This is not a peaceful protest. This is intimidation.โ
The vandalism follows a pattern of increasingly aggressive demonstrations in Vancouver and other Canadian cities since the Hamas-led October 7 attacks and subsequent war in Gaza. While protestors frame their actions as part of a broader movement for Palestinian rights, critics warn that the methods and messaging often veer into antisemitic territory.
Authorities have not announced any arrests in connection with the vandalism.
This article is based on verified information from a publicly available video on X, statements from Jewish community leaders, and public records of past demonstrations involving the same activist networks.