Hundreds of people are gathering today in Ottawa and Toronto to remember the victims of Oct. 7 and the hostages that have not yet made it home. A University of Ottawa sign is pictured behind the Israeli flag as it flies in front of Ottawa City Hall on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. The flag was raised during a private event. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
OTTAWA – Hundreds of people were gathering Sunday in cities across Canada to remember the victims of the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on Israel and the ongoing war in Gaza.
In the nation’s capital, a sea of Israeli flags could be seen draped over participants in front of Ottawa city hall, with Canadian flags waving alongside them as they called for the release of hostages still being held in Gaza.
They were set to march to Parliament Hill, where Liberal MP Mona Fortier, Conservative MP Shuvaloy Majumdar and rabbis were to be among those delivering speeches at an event to mark the sombre anniversary.
Also set to speak was the mother of Montreal’s Alexander Look, who was killed while attending a music festival in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, in the attack by Hamas.
The incursion into Israel last Oct. 7 saw more than 1,200 Israelis killed and about 240 hostages seized, triggering an Israeli counter-offensive in Gaza that the regional health ministry says has left more than 41,000 dead.
An increased police presence could be seen along the route of the march, with some uniformed officers present around the crowd.
In Toronto, some politicians and community members joined a rally in support of Israel and the hostages that has run every week since Oct. 7, 2023.
“My message today is simple,” said Ontario Solicitor General Michael Kerzner, who represents the north Toronto riding where the rally is held, and who is himself Jewish.
“We will not stop in standing up for the values that we cherish in our Ontario. We will not stop in coming together in an allyship voice, standing up against hate, standing up against antisemitism, standing up (against) all forms of hatred that has no place in our Ontario.”
A pro-Palestinian demonstration is set to take place at Montreal’s Dorchester Square on Sunday afternoon, the second such event in the city this weekend, with more planned for Monday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 6, 2024.
