On Monday, hundreds of pro-Israel protesters from across the country united on the parliament hill to condemn the antisemitic violence in Ottawa, Canada, and for solidarity with Israel.
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs organized the rally to show collective strength to face staggering antisemitism.
Pro-Israel Protesters Unite on Parliament Hill
Prominent Jewish Canadian politicians, religious leaders, non-Jewish allies, and embattled students from Canada's universities were present in the crowd as speakers, calling to end the antisemitic violence in Canada.
Nicole Amiel, a CIJA spokesperson, said that the organizers had brought in about 7,000 people on buses from Toronto and another 2,000 on buses from Montreal.
The speakers conveyed a message that Canada must stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel as it confronts a militant group bent on destroying the Jewish state.
They called for Canadians to speak out for Israel's right to exist and its need to defend itself against violence. They also called on the international community to push for the release of hostages held by Hamas.
Furthermore, the speakers referred to incidents in Canada, such as shots being fired at Jewish schools, a Molotov cocktail being thrown at a Jewish community center, and a bomb threat against a high school.
Larry Weinstein, the brother of Judih Weinstein Haggai, the only Canadian believed to be held by Hamas, said that he had witnessed a lot of innocent people who were suffering.
Weinstein added that he was distressed by the rise in hateful speech toward both Jews and Muslims in Canada.
Mount Royal Liberal MP Anthony Housefather told the rally that some people have been minimizing the October 7 attack on Israeli civilians.
The MP party has called for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. A spokesperson noted leader Jagmeet Singh has met with relatives of those killed by Hamas and condemned antisemitism.
"We saw bullet holes and blood traces and cars that were run off the road when their occupants were killed. We met with families of Canadians who were massacred and with families of the hostages," he said.
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TOPSHOT - Demonstrators gather in support of the Jewish community, on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, on December 4, 2023. Israeli police say they have been collecting evidence of sexual violence by militants who had stormed Israeli communities and army bases, ranging from alleged gang rapes to post-mortem mutilation. But Hamas charged that the allegations were part of "Zionist campaigns which promote unfounded lies and allegations to demonise the Palestinian resistance".
Canadians in Gaza
The Israeli officials reported 137 people were still being held hostage in Gaza. One hundred and five people were freed during the ceasefire in exchange for the release of 240 Palestinians who were being held in Israeli prisons.
The exchange of the hostages occurred at the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza. Global Affairs Canada said that 130 Canadians were freed during the weekend.
On Sunday, the department confirmed that about 600 Canadians, permanent residents, and their family members left the Gaza Strip. The department said 426 Canadians in the West Bank and Gaza were registered with the federal government.
However, on Sunday night, Global Affairs Canada confirmed the eighth death of a Canadian as a result of the Israel-Hamas conflict in Lebanon.
Related Article: Israel-Hamas War Continues After 7-Day Truce Runs Out
