Palestinians and supporters congregated at Toronto’s Nathan Phillips Square Monday afternoon, many saying they were there to support the Palestinian cause and not to glorify the deadly attacks launched by Hamas against Israelis. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)
More than a thousand people congregated at Toronto’s Nathan Phillips Square Monday afternoon, many saying they were there to support the Palestinian people and not to glorify the deadly attacks launched by Hamas against Israelis over the weekend.
Still, many also refused to condemn those attacks that have reportedly killed more than 900 Israelis, saying instead the focus should be on how Israel has mistreated Palestinians and occupied Palestinian land for decades. They also pointed to the nearly 700 Palestinians who have been killed by Israel in response to the attacks.
“It’s not a question of whether we support the attacks. It’s a question of what do we stand against,” said Yara Shoufani, with the Toronto chapter of the Palestinian Youth Movement, which organized the event. The organization says on Instagram that it’s a grassroots, independent movement “struggling for the liberation of our homeland.”
“We are here again in support of the Palestinian people, the Palestinian nation, across all walks of life inside of Palestine, outside of Palestine, in the refugee camps, all across the world that is fighting to return home.”
Protests across Canada
The rally in downtown Toronto was peaceful. Supporters held Palestinian flags chanting “Free Palestine” as they marched along Queen Street West. It was one of many similar pro-Palestinian protests held across Canada on Thanksgiving Monday, which included events in Calgary, Vancouver, Winnipeg and Halifax.
The rally in Toronto was a peaceful affair. Supporters held Palestinian flags chanting ‘free Palestine’ as they marched along Queen Street West. (Mark Gollom/CBC)
A number of pro-Israel rallies were also held throughout the country on Monday. But was those in support of the Palestinian cause that came under criticism. Jewish organizations and some politicians condemned them, characterizing the rallies as events to glorify the attacks on Israel.
“The glorification of violence is never acceptable in Canada — by any group or in any situation,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a tweet. “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.”
Mayor Olivia Chow also condemned the rally in downtown Toronto, saying she “unequivocally” denounced the unsanctioned event.
“Glorifying this weekend’s indiscriminate violence including murder and kidnapping of women and children by Hamas against Israeli civilians, is deplorable,” Chow said in a tweet.
But Omen Sayah, a 49-year-old Palestinian Canadian living in Mississauga, Ont., who attended the Toronto rally, said Chow and those denouncing the protests don’t have a good understanding of the situation faced by Palestinians
Two rallies were held in Halifax on Thanksgiving Monday — one in support of Israel, the other in support of the Palestinian territories. (Jeorge Sadi/CBC)
“It’s the Palestinians dying. We are the people who have been dying for many years,” he said.
As for the killing of Israelis by Hamas, Sayah said they were “not attacks. They are trying to regain their land back.”
‘Nobody stood for us’
Dalia Alusta, a Palestinian Canadian who also attended the Toronto rally, said that it has been painful to see “this amount of blood, no matter for whom.”
“But we’ve been killed all those years, nobody stood for us.”
As for the family members of those Israelis who were killed or kidnapped, she said they should just leave Israel.
“It’s an occupied land. I’m sorry for them, but they have the option to leave.”
She said she doesn’t agree with Hamas, that she doesn’t share their “moral value system” but that she supports any resistance and as long as they fight for the rights of Palestinians, “I will stand for them.”
On Monday, the Israeli defence minister ordered a complete siege on Gaza, saying authorities would cut electricity and block the entry of food and fuel. The order came two days after Hamas fighters unleashed a barrage of rockets and infiltrated southern Israeli towns, killing hundreds, while capturing and holding hostages in what some are labelling as “Israel’s 9/11.”
How Hamas’s surprise attack on Israel unfolded
Israel has declared war with Hamas after the Palestinian militant group launched a surprise attack that killed hundreds. The National breaks down how Hamas went seemingly undetected by Israeli intelligence for months and days leading up to the attack and what could happen next.
Israel, which has formally declared war on Hamas, pounded the Gaza Strip from the air and prepared for a campaign Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said would destroy “the military and governing capabilities” of the militant group. Palestinian officials say under 700 people have been killed in Gaza.
In Vancouver, up to 300 protesters gathered with Palestinian flags. Some were wearing the traditional keffiyeh scarf, and called for the end of what they deem to be a settler-colonial occupation in the Palestinian territories.
In Winnipeg, about 100 people showed up for the “Resistance is a Right” rally. Damon Nasser, one of the organizers, said the purpose was to show solidarity with the Palestinian people who are again under attack by Israel.
“After over 70 years of occupation, 70 years of attacks from the state of Israel, they finally [rose] up and resisted, not always in the best of way but it’s to be expected,” he said. “One plus one equals two and this response was to be expected.”
In Calgary, separate pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel rallies were held at City Hall and Calgary Beth Tzedec Congregation respectively. Calgary police told CBC News late Monday afternoon that one adult male had been taken into custody at the rallies that took place at City Hall for “causing a disturbance.” Police said they do not believe the man to be affiliated with either group.
On Monday evening, a at pro-Israel solidarity event at Ottawa’s Soloway Jewish Community Centre, the prime minister said that Canada “unequivocally and in the strongest possible terms, condemns these terrorist attacks perpetrated by Hamas.”
‘We stand with Israel: Trudeau’
“We stand with Israel and reaffirm our support for Israel’s right to defend itself in accordance with international law,” Trudeau said.
Trudeau speaks at Israel solidarity event
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivers remarks at an Ottawa-area event designed to show solidarity with Israelis amid an ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
In Toronto, at North York’s Mel Lastman Square during a rally in support of Israel, Ontario Premier Doug Ford described the attacks as “heinous acts of terror” and that now is the “time for moral clarity.”
“There can be no question or confusion — Israel has an absolute right to defend itself and its citizens.”
Chow told the crowd that as mayor, she will not stand in silence.
“In this dark hour, I stand with you, the members of Toronto’s Jewish community.”
Police said that four arrests were made at the event and that there were a number of counter protesters in the area, but the event remained relatively peaceful.
EDMONTON – RCMP say a second suspect has been arrested in the killing of an Alberta county worker.
Mounties say 28-year-old Elijah Strawberry was taken into custody Friday at a house on O’Chiese First Nation.
Colin Hough, a worker with Rocky View County, was shot and killed while on the job on a rural road east of Calgary on Aug. 6.
Another man who worked for Fortis Alberta was shot and wounded, and RCMP said the suspects fled in a Rocky View County work truck.
Police later arrested Arthur Wayne Penner, 35, and charged him with first-degree murder and attempted murder, and a warrant was issued for Strawberry’s arrest.
RCMP also said there was a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Strawberry, describing him as armed and dangerous.
Chief Supt. Roberta McKale, told a news conference in Edmonton that officers had received tips and information over the last few weeks.
“I don’t know of many members that when were stopped, fuelling up our vehicles, we weren’t keeping an eye out, looking for him,” she said.
But officers had been investigating other cases when they found Strawberry.
“Our investigators were in O’Chiese First Nation at a residence on another matter and the major crimes unit was there working another file and ended up locating him hiding in the residence,” McKale said.
While an investigation is still underway, RCMP say they’re confident both suspects in the case are in police custody.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
RICHMOND, B.C. – The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says the 26-year-old son of a man found dead on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast has been charged with his murder.
Police say 58-year-old Henry Doyle was found badly injured on a forest service road in Egmont last September and died of his injuries.
The homicide team took over when the BC Coroners Service said the man’s death was suspicious.
It says in a statement that the BC Prosecution Service has approved one count of first-degree murder against the man’s son, Jackson Doyle.
Police say the accused will remain in custody until at least his next court appearance.
The homicide team says investigators remained committed to solving the case with the help of the community of Egmont, the RCMP on the Sunshine Coast and in Richmond, and the Vancouver Police Department.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
VANCOUVER – Mediated talks between the union representing HandyDART workers in Metro Vancouver and its employer, Transdev, have broken off without an agreement following 15 hours of talks.
Joe McCann, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724, says they stayed at the bargaining table with help from a mediator until 2 a.m. Friday and made “some progress.”
However, he says the union negotiators didn’t get an offer that they could recommend to the membership.
McCann says that in some ways they are close to an agreement, but in other areas they are “miles apart.”
About 600 employees of the door-to-door transit service for people who can’t navigate the conventional transit system have been on strike since last week, pausing service for all but essential medical trips.
McCann asks HandyDART users to be “patient,” since they are trying to get not only a fair contract for workers but also a better service for customers.
He says it’s unclear when the talks will resume, but he hopes next week at the latest.
The employer, Transdev, didn’t reply to an interview request before publication.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
