WINNIPEG — Canada’s federal recognition of a Palestinian state in September 2025 has sparked a wave of flag-raising ceremonies across the country. Manitoba’s provincial government plans to fly the Palestinian flag at Memorial Park in Winnipeg on November 15, commemorating the date in 1988, during the first Intifada, when arch terrorist, Yasser Arafat, declared Palestinian independence.
Toronto City Hall will fly it on Nov. 17, and Mississauga is hosting a ceremony on Nov. 16.
Municipal leaders insist these are merely symbolic gestures of cultural recognition. But critics point out a glaring problem: polls show a majority of Palestinians still endorse Hamas’s October 7, 2023, terrorist massacre and reject peaceful compromise. How can Canadian officials rush to honor Palestinian identity in civic spaces when many Palestinians have not denounced violence or even the concept of armed struggle?
Recent surveys by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PCPSR) paint a disturbing picture. A late-October 2025 poll found that 53% of Palestinians said Hamas’s Oct. 7 assault, an attack in which fighters killed about 1,200 Israeli civilians and kidnapped hundreds, was the “right decision.” Broken down by region, 59% of West Bankers and 44% of Gazans backed the attack.
The same survey showed only 45% of Palestinians supporting a two-state solution, versus 53% opposing it. In other words, a slight majority now opposes the very approach the flag raisings are meant to signal support for.
Likewise, support for “armed struggle” remains high. A Reuters report on a mid-2024 PCPSR poll notes that 54% of Palestinians saw armed resistance as the best way to end the occupation and achieve statehood. An even higher figure opposes any disarmament of Hamas.
In one recent vote-intention survey, 44% of Palestinian voters said they would vote for Hamas if an election were held, versus 30% for Fatah.
- Majority back Hamas’s Oct 7 attack: 53% overall (59% in the West Bank, 44% in Gaza) say it was the “right decision.”
- Two-state solution unpopular: Only 45% support it, while 53% oppose it outright.
- Armed struggle favored: In mid-2024, 54% of Palestinians said armed conflict was the best way to end the occupation. Many also reject any plan to disarm Hamas.
These findings mean that tens of thousands of Palestinian-Canadians (and their supporters) are celebrating national symbols that, to a worrying degree, correlate with approval of terrorism and rejection of peace.
As one Jewish community leader observes, the symbolism of raising the Palestinian flag “comes amid a profound rejection of peace by a significant portion of the Palestinian population.” When most Palestinians in the West Bank refuse to renounce violence or endorse a two‑state compromise, flying their flag without qualification risks sending the message that Canadian Provincial and Municipal leaders condone or overlook these views.
In fairness, supporters of the flag raisings emphasize cultural pride and identity. They note that Prime Minister Mark Carney himself recognized a Palestinian state as part of an international effort to preserve a two-state solution. In his September statement, Carney explicitly condemned Hamas’s terrorism and stressed that recognition “in no way legitimises terrorism” while reaffirming Canada’s “steadfast support for the State of Israel, its people, and their security”.
Municipal officials echo this: Toronto’s city spokesperson made clear that flying the flag on Nov. 17 was simply an approved request by a nonprofit (the International Centre for Justice for Palestinians) and “neither implies nor expresses support for the politics or policies” of any nation. Manitoba’s Premier Wab Kinew noted that he personally condemned the Oct. 7 attacks even as he announced the flag ceremony.
Nonetheless, Jewish community groups and pro-Israel advocates warn that such symbolic gestures must be handled with extreme care. They recall that Canada and Toronto have seen a recent surge in antisemitism after the October 7 massacre. One Algemeiner report notes that “Toronto and Canada more broadly have seen antisemitism surge over the past two years, following Hamas’s Oct. 7 atrocities.”
Canadian Jewish organizations argue that recognizing Palestinian nationhood in civic spaces without simultaneously denouncing violence emboldens extremists. For example, they have urged government officials to pair any flag-raising with explicit condemnations of terrorism and robust safety measures.
The Jewish Tribune quotes local leaders saying ceremonies must include “unambiguous reassurances about policing, public-safety planning, and contextual explanation” so that vulnerable communities are not left feeling threatened. Similarly, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) blasted Toronto’s mayor for failing to calibrate her rhetoric; CIJA described the mayor’s recent statement acknowledging the genocide in Gaza as “reckless, divisive, and dangerous” and called on her to take “immediate action to restore trust and ensure our safety.”
In short, leading Jewish voices are asking: If we honor the Palestinian flag in the public square, do we also demand a repudiation of the ideology behind Hamas? Are Canadian officials risking political pandering by treating the flag as merely cultural when polls show a large portion of Palestinians still idolize violence?
The timing of these ceremonies, ahead of elections in many provinces and municipalities, has led some observers to wonder if politicians are trying to curry favor with vocal pro-Palestinian voter blocs. No politician has openly admitted such motives, but the optics have raised eyebrows. (As one Toronto official dryly noted, the flag-raising followed federal actions recognizing Palestine at the UN)
Rather than stoking division, municipal leaders have an opportunity to reinforce peace. The Prime Minister himself said that recognition of Palestine “empowers those who seek peaceful coexistence and the end of Hamas.” Cities should take that message to heart. For example, they could delay the flag ceremonies until Palestinian society denounces terrorism and commits to non-violence.
At a minimum, any raising of the Palestinian flag in Canada should be accompanied by clearly worded statements like Carney’s that Hamas’s October 7 attack was “heinous” and “terror,” and reaffirm that Canada stands with Israel’s security. Officials could use the occasion to educate the public about the ongoing conflict and the importance of a two-state peace process. They should also ensure heavy security and community coordination so that no one feels unsafe.
As Jewish community leaders have pointed out, symbolism alone is not enough; gestures must be tied to concrete commitments against hatred and violence.
In the end, raising the Palestinian flag in Canadian civic spaces should not be a partisan gambit. It should celebrate cultural heritage and reinforce Canada’s core values of peace and mutual respect. As The Jewish Tribune advises, “ceremonial recognitions must be accompanied by unambiguous assurances” and explanations of their purpose.
If cities proceed with flag‑raising on November 15–17, they should insist on full context: a shared aspiration for a future without terror. Otherwise, by rushing ahead, officials risk sending the wrong message, that Canada tacitly accepts armed struggle for statehood, at a time when the memory of innocent lives lost on Oct. 7 is still fresh, and the remains of 4 hostages remain in Gaza.
Key points to remember:
Many urge delaying or strictly conditioning the events: ensure Palestinian society and its supporters explicitly repudiate armed attacks and support peaceful coexistence before the flag is flown. This approach aligns with PM Carney’s emphasis that recognizing Palestine “in no way legitimizes terrorism” and does not compromise Israel’s security
Polls of Palestinians today show majorities backing Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack and rejecting a negotiated peace.
Canadian provinces and cities (Manitoba, Toronto, Mississauga) plan first-time Palestinian flag-raisings in mid-November, following federal recognition of Palestine.
Jewish organizations warn that without pairing these ceremonies with firm condemnations of terrorism and safety plans, the gestures could be misinterpreted as tolerance for violence.
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This article is based on verified information from Canadian and international media reports and polls (Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, Reuters, Times of Israel, Algemeiner, TorontoToday, The Jewish Tribune, Government of Canada)
The opinions and facts presented in this article are those of the author, and neither TheJ.Ca nor its partners assume any responsibility for them.
This is quite the juggling act, isnt it? On one hand, weve got the audacity of Palestinian flags being hoisted across Canada, while polls reveal a significant portion of Palestinians approve of Hamass right decision on October 7th. Its like inviting the wolf to tea and hoping he brings a gift basket. Critics are right to worry; this seems less like cultural recognition and more like political pandering wrapped in a flag with questionable绣线. Meanwhile, Canada grapples with surging antisemitism – a clear reminder that symbols can sometimes represent the very ideologies theyre supposed to celebrate. Its a delicate dance of diplomatic gymnastics, where political correctness might just be losing its balance.
I am from Vancouver and i want to say it is time that Canadian Cities begin to support Palestine. There are thousands of Canadians across Canada who have been supporting Palestine for a long time now.Overall the majority of People in the world support Palestine and that will continue until Palestine is Free from been occupied by Zionists and Israeli Settlers from the River to the Sea.
As far as I can see it’s the Zionists who have been acting as bloody terrorists. The Holocaust ancestors who died in vain must be turning in their graves at the atrocities being carried out in their name. If you’re so insecure that raising the Palestinian Flag sends you into a tizzy, then perhaps you need to reevaluate your own morals.
Everyone and every country have the right to defend themselves, not just one country. By speaking against another nation, you’re indulging in hatred yourself. End of!