Pro-Palestinian Rallies Erupt Across Canada, Sparking Controversy Over Support for Attacks
In a show of solidarity, pro-Palestinian rallies erupted across Canada on Monday, igniting a heated debate over the support for recent attacks against Israel. Over a thousand people gathered at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto, making it clear that they were there to back the Palestinian cause but not to glorify the deadly attacks launched by Hamas over the weekend.
While many rally participants voiced their support for the Palestinian people and condemned the atrocities committed by Israel, some refused to denounce the attacks, arguing that the focus should be on Israel’s mistreatment of Palestinians over decades and the occupation of Palestinian land. They pointed to the hundreds of Palestinian lives lost in Israel’s response to the attacks.
Yara Shoufani, representing the Toronto chapter of the Palestinian Youth Movement, highlighted the purpose of the event, stating, It’s not a question of whether we support the attacks. It’s a question of what do we stand against. The organization, a grassroots and independent movement, is dedicated to fighting for the liberation of their homeland.
The rally in downtown Toronto proceeded peacefully, with supporters waving Palestinian flags and chanting Free Palestine as they marched along Queen Street West. Similar pro-Palestinian protests were also held in Calgary, Vancouver, Winnipeg, and Halifax on Thanksgiving Monday.
While pro-Israel rallies also took place throughout the country, it was the demonstrations in support of the Palestinian cause that received criticism. Jewish organizations and politicians condemned these rallies, claiming that they were glorifying the attacks on Israel.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took to Twitter to express his condemnation: The glorification of violence is never acceptable in Canada — by any group or in any situation. I strongly condemn the demonstrations that have taken place, and are taking place, across the country in support of Hamas’s attacks on Israel. Let’s stand united against acts of terror. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow also voiced her unequivocal denouncement of the unsanctioned rally in the city.
However, some rally attendees disagreed with these statements, arguing that Chow and others lacked a comprehensive understanding of the Palestinian perspective. Omen Sayah, a Palestinian Canadian, emphasized, It’s the Palestinians dying. We are the people who have been dying for many years. They maintained that the attacks against Israelis were not acts of violence, but rather efforts to reclaim their land.
Another rally participant, Dalia Alusta, spoke of the pain caused by the loss of life on both sides, but insisted that Palestinians have long suffered without support. Alusta expressed her disagreement with Hamas, yet supported any resistance that fought for Palestinian rights.
In response to the attacks, the Israeli defense minister ordered a complete siege on Gaza, including cutting off electricity and blocking the entry of food and fuel. Israel, having declared war on Hamas, launched airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, intending to decimate the military and governing capabilities of the militant group. Palestinian officials reported that nearly 700 people have been killed in Gaza.
Various Canadian cities witnessed these rallies unfold. In Vancouver, approximately 300 protesters gathered, calling for an end to what they considered to be a settler-colonial occupation in the Palestinian territories. Meanwhile, around 100 individuals participated in the Resistance is a Right rally in Winnipeg, showing solidarity with Palestinians facing Israeli attacks.
Later in the evening, at a pro-Israel solidarity event in Ottawa’s Soloway Jewish Community Centre, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau unequivocally condemned the terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas. Trudeau reaffirmed Canada’s support for Israel’s right to defend itself in accordance with international law.
As the debates surrounding these rallies continue, it is clear that the issue remains deeply complex, with both sides holding differing perspectives. While proponents of the pro-Palestinian rallies emphasize the mistreatment and suffering endured by Palestinians, critics argue against the glorification of violence and advocate for peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians.
