TORONTO — Jewish advocacy groups and politicians across Canada are condemning planned pro-Hamas demonstrations set for October 7, the second anniversary of Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel. In that assault, Israeli officials say about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed.
The Abraham Global Peace Initiative (AGPI) “strongly condemns the planned demonstrations by pro-Hamas activists” scheduled in cities including Toronto and Montreal. AGPI founder Avi Benlolo called such rallies “acts of moral depravity”, saying “to march in support of Hamas… is to glorify barbarism and terror.”
Canadian leaders have echoed the outrage. Prime Minister Mark Carney said that “the glorification of violence is never acceptable in Canada,” warning that supporters of Hamas’s attacks are celebrating terror. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow denounced a planned rally in her city as unsanctioned, noting that Ottawa “has rightly listed Hamas as a terrorist organization.”
Ontario Premier Doug Ford similarly slammed any “hate rallies celebrating the kidnapping and slaughtering of innocent Israeli people by terrorists” as “reprehensible and disgusting.” In Quebec, Jewish federation leaders and city officials have also promised to step up security around synagogues and community centers on Oct. 7 to protect against potential extremist activity.
AGPI and others have urged concrete action. The group called on Prime Minister Mark Carney to invoke Canada’s Emergencies Act to halt the rallies and ordered law enforcement to apply anti-terrorism laws to anyone organizing or supporting them. “Freedom of expression must never be used as a shield for hate or as a platform for terror,” Benlolo said, urging a “firm moral line” between peace and support for murderous violence.
B’nai Brith Canada also weighed in, warning universities and public officials to ensure no event “glorifies terrorism.” In a letter to campus administrators, the group stressed that Hamas’s charter calls for jihad to “eliminate Jewish people”, and recalled that Hamas “murdered more than 1,300 Israelis,” including civilians, during its Oct. 7, 2023, rampage. It said any attempt to hold events celebrating Oct. 7 would be an insult to the victims and a betrayal of Canadian values.
Former Justice Minister Irwin Cotler, now a prominent Jewish community leader, urged Ottawa to treat the surge in antisemitism as a national security priority. Speaking at an Ottawa forum, Cotler warned that the federal government “has yet to appreciate the gravity of the threat” posed by rising hate. He urged “decisive national leadership”, saying, “this is not a moment for equivocation.” Cotler and other experts are calling for a coordinated strategy linking prevention, protection, and prosecution to keep Canadians safe.
In Toronto on Sept. 10, a few dozen demonstrators carrying Palestinian flags gathered outside the Toronto International Film Festival screening of an Oct. 7-related film. Police said one person was arrested during that protest. Officials note that such events have been rare in Canada, but they underscore the sharp divisions on the anniversary.
Even with peaceful dissent allowed, Carney reiterated that support for Hamas’s violence is never acceptable. Mayor Chow and Premier Ford echoed the need to keep hate in check, with Chow pointing out that marching under Hamas banners runs counter to Canada’s laws and values.
Police and security agencies say they will monitor Oct. 7 gatherings closely. Vancouver police warned last year that while the Charter protects free expression, the public display of extremist symbols and slogans was found to be “intolerable, offensive and unsafe.” After a 2024 rally at which flags were burned, officers stressed that actions glorifying Hamas were widely condemned and that arrests would follow any illegal acts.
“Burning materials in any crowded place could endanger others, and anyone who breaks the law is subject to arrest and charges,” Vancouver police noted. Similar messages are expected in other cities: authorities say people are free to protest within the law, but not to incite violence or celebrate terrorism.
This article is based on verified information from public statements by Jewish community groups and government officials, and reporting by Reuters, Global News (The Canadian Press), and other sources