Ottawa — Canadian organizations are promoting a virtual event that will feature individuals tied to multiple Canadian-listed terrorist entities, according to a public statement released by the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs. CIJA said the event includes senior figures from Hamas, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and Samidoun, all of which are designated terrorist organizations under Canadian law.

The event, titled Intifada of Stones, is scheduled for later today and has been widely shared on social media channels. CIJA said the promotional materials list speakers who have documented histories with groups responsible for attacks that caused the deaths and injuries of Israeli civilians.

According to CIJA, one of the listed speakers, Osman Bilal, is a senior Hamas official who was sentenced to 27 life sentences in Israel for involvement in attacks that killed and wounded dozens of Israelis. CIJA stated that he was released as part of an agreement reached in February 2025. The Government of Canada recognizes Hamas as a listed terrorist entity.

CIJA also said that another advertised speaker, Khaled Barakat, is identified as a member of the PFLP leadership and a leading figure in Samidoun. Both the PFLP and Samidoun are listed as terrorist entities under Canadian law. The PFLP has carried out numerous attacks targeting Israeli civilians. Samidoun was designated a terrorist entity by Canada due to its ties to the PFLP and its activities supporting the organization.

CIJA Raises Public Safety Concerns

In its statement, CIJA said that the involvement of these speakers should be a matter of significant concern for Canadian authorities. The organization said that the promotion of an event featuring individuals directly linked to designated terrorist organizations raises questions about compliance with Canadian anti-terrorism legislation.

“Canadian groups are promoting a virtual event that will feature individuals directly tied to Canadian-listed terror entities,” CIJA said. “The government must ensure that the promotion of these illegal and dangerous entities has real consequences. Canadians deserve to be protected from terrorist threats.”

CIJA said its concerns focus on both public safety and the legal implications of providing a platform to individuals affiliated with organizations listed under the Criminal Code of Canada.

Legal and Policy Context

Under Canada’s Criminal Code, it is illegal to knowingly support or facilitate the activities of a listed terrorist entity. The listing process involves assessments conducted by security agencies and approved by the federal government. The PFLP, Hamas, and Samidoun were each designated because of their involvement in violent activities targeting civilians and their links to operational networks that continue to pose threats abroad.

Experts on national security policy have noted that online events featuring individuals associated with listed organizations expose groups that provide a platform or promotional support. These experts say that enforcement depends on whether authorities determine that promotion constitutes facilitation under Canadian law.

Concerns for the Jewish Community

Jewish community organizations have expressed growing concerns about the normalization of rhetoric, symbols, and messaging linked to terrorist groups. CIJA said that events such as the Intifada of Stones risk contributing to environments where calls for violence are legitimized.

The promotional media for the event includes imagery associated with past violent uprisings, including depictions of masked individuals engaged in stone-throwing. For many in the Jewish and pro-Israel community, this imagery recalls periods of significant violence in Israel and in Judea and Samaria, where civilians were targeted during waves of attacks.

CIJA said the decision by Canadian groups to promote the event is part of a wider trend in which organizations amplify materials tied to extremist entities. The organization noted that strong enforcement by federal authorities is necessary to prevent listed groups from mobilizing or legitimizing support within Canada.

Government Response

As of publication, federal authorities have not issued public statements about the specific event. Security agencies have previously said that they monitor online activity linked to listed terrorist organizations. The Government of Canada has repeatedly stated that it will take action when individuals or groups violate anti-terrorism laws.

CIJA called on the federal government to ensure that existing laws are applied.

“Canadians deserve to be protected from terrorist threats,” the organization said.