“Probably everyone here has someone they know in Israel,” said Randi Elkind of Toronto, gesturing to the crowd of thousands. “What’s really important is that we need to stand together as a Jewish people.”
Published Dec 04, 2023 • Last updated 7 hours ago • 4 minute read
Thousands of people packed Parliament Hill on Monday afternoon, flying Israeli flags and calling for the release of hostages held by Hamas.
Among the thousands of attendees was Lana Pulver, who made the trip from Vancouver specifically to attend the event. She landed in Ottawa at 3 a.m. and caught a few hours sleep before attending the event, and planned to catch a flight home to Vancouver on Monday night.
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“It was important for us to show that we stand united across the entire country for fellow Jews,” she said. Pulver’s brother-in-law lives in Israel, and says members of her extended family have attended “far too many funerals” since Hamas’s attack on Oct. 7.
“Probably everyone here has someone they know in Israel,” said Randi Elkind of Toronto, gesturing to the crowd of thousands. “What’s really important is that we need to stand together as a Jewish people.”
The crowd booed at the mention of Members of Parliament who have called for a ceasefire.
“I think it’s extremely important that we send a message to all those in Parliament,” Elkind said, “that they need to understand the right side of history, and they need to look at history and facts, and stop taking an antisemitic lens to decisions that they make.”
Elkind noted the rise in hate crimes since Oct. 7. In Ottawa alone, there have been 71 hate crimes from Oct. 7 to De. 2, according to police data. That represents a 238 per cent increase compared to the same two-month period in 2022. Over 50 incidents targeted the Jewish and Muslim community, 41 of which where deemed criminal, police say.
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People bused in from Toronto, Montreal and surrounding areas, but some buses never showed up, something the the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto said was an act of antisemitism.
“Given the absolute silence of the subcontractor and with no other explanation, we are driven to the view that this shameful decision is intended to disrupt our peaceful rally out of hatred toward Jews,” said Adam Minsky, president and CEO of the organization, in a press statement.
Speakers at the rally included Iddo Moed, Israel’s ambassador to Canada. He told the crowd antisemitism takes many forms, and “its current disguise is the social justice warrior wielding the popular sword of Israel condemnation.”
He said Israel does not oppose Palestinian people, but rather “the terrorist organization known as Hamas.”
He called for the release of hostages as the crowd chanted, “Bring them home.”
Ysabella Hazan told the crowd an attack on Israel is an attack on all Jewish people.
“We will not be fooled into fighting for our own oppression,” she said.
On the outskirts of the rally, a handful of pro-Palestinian counter-protesters waved Palestinian flags and accused passersby of supporting genocide.
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Israel resumed deadly airstrikes on southern Gaza on the weekend after a weeklong truce fell apart Friday, with both sides blaming the other.
The Israeli army said more than 250 rockets were fired from Gaza since the truce ended.
Israeli officials say 137 people are still being held hostage in Gaza. Another 105 were freed during the ceasefire in exchange for the release of 240 Palestinians who were being held in Israeli prisons. Most of those released on both sides were women and children.
Those exchanges were being done at the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza. Since the truce ended, foreign nationals have been allowed to leave through the Rafah crossing once again. Global Affairs Canada said that included about 130 Canadians who left over the weekend.
The department said in a statement Sunday evening that about 600 Canadians, permanent residents and their family members have been able to leave the besieged territory so far. The department says there are 426 Canadians in the West Bank and Gaza who are registered with the federal government.
Global Affairs Canada also said Sunday night that an eighth Canadian has died as a result of the current conflict, this time in Lebanon. One Canadian is considered missing, the government says, though it will not say who that person is or where they may be, citing privacy reasons.
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The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs has said Judih Weinstein Haggai is being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza. She is a Canadian citizen who lived in Toronto for 20 years.
An estimated 1,200 Israelis were killed the day Hamas militants launched attacks from Gaza, and more than 15,500 Palestinians have been killed in the nearly two months of bombing since then.
On Saturday, an International Criminal Court prosecutor said his office is serious about moving forward to investigate allegations of war crimes on both sides.
With files from the Canadian Press
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