”Most likely everybody right here has somebody they know in Israel,” mentioned Randi Elkind of Toronto, gesturing to the group of hundreds. ”What’s actually necessary is that we have to stand collectively as a Jewish individuals.”
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Hundreds of individuals packed Parliament Hill on Monday afternoon, flying Israeli flags and calling for the discharge of hostages held by Hamas.
Among the many hundreds of attendees was Lana Pulver, who made the journey from Vancouver particularly to attend the occasion. She landed in Ottawa at 3 a.m. and caught just a few hours sleep earlier than attending the occasion, and deliberate to catch a flight residence to Vancouver on Monday night time.
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“It was necessary for us to point out that we stand united throughout your entire nation for fellow Jews,” she mentioned. Pulver’s brother-in-law lives in Israel, and says members of her prolonged household have attended “far too many funerals” since Hamas’s assault on Oct. 7.
“Most likely everybody right here has somebody they know in Israel,” mentioned Randi Elkind of Toronto, gesturing to the group of hundreds. “What’s actually necessary is that we have to stand collectively as a Jewish individuals.”
The gang booed on the point out of Members of Parliament who’ve referred to as for a ceasefire.
“I feel it’s extraordinarily necessary that we ship a message to all these in Parliament,” Elkind mentioned, “that they should perceive the suitable aspect of historical past, they usually want to have a look at historical past and information, and cease taking an antisemitic lens to choices that they make.”
Elkind famous the rise in hate crimes since Oct. 7. In Ottawa alone, there have been 71 hate crimes from Oct. 7 to De. 2, based on police knowledge. That represents a 238 per cent improve in comparison with the identical two-month interval in 2022. Over 50 incidents focused the Jewish and Muslim neighborhood, 41 of which the place deemed prison, police say.
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Individuals bused in from Toronto, Montreal and surrounding areas, however some buses by no means confirmed up, one thing the the UJA Federation of Larger Toronto mentioned was an act of antisemitism.
“Given absolutely the silence of the subcontractor and with no different rationalization, we’re pushed to the view that this shameful determination is meant to disrupt our peaceable rally out of hatred towards Jews,” mentioned Adam Minsky, president and CEO of the group, in a press assertion.
Audio system on the rally included Iddo Moed, Israel’s ambassador to Canada. He instructed the group antisemitism takes many varieties, and “its present disguise is the social justice warrior wielding the favored sword of Israel condemnation.”
He mentioned Israel doesn’t oppose Palestinian individuals, however slightly “the terrorist group referred to as Hamas.”
He referred to as for the discharge of hostages as the group chanted, “Deliver them residence.”
Ysabella Hazan instructed the group an assault on Israel is an assault on all Jewish individuals.
“We is not going to be fooled into combating for our personal oppression,” she mentioned.
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 lethal airstrikes on southern Gaza on the weekend after a weeklong truce fell aside Friday, with either side blaming the opposite.
The Israeli military mentioned greater than 250 rockets had been fired from Gaza because the truce ended.
Israeli officers say 137 persons are nonetheless being held hostage in Gaza. One other 105 had been freed in the course of the ceasefire in change for the discharge of 240 Palestinians who had been being held in Israeli prisons. Most of these launched on either side had been girls and kids.
These exchanges had been being achieved on the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza. Because the truce ended, international nationals have been allowed to go away by way of the Rafah crossing as soon as once more. International Affairs Canada mentioned that included about 130 Canadians who left over the weekend.
The division mentioned in a press release Sunday night that about 600 Canadians, everlasting residents and their members of the family have been in a position to go away the besieged territory to date. The division says there are 426 Canadians within the West Financial institution and Gaza who’re registered with the federal authorities.
International Affairs Canada additionally mentioned Sunday night time that an eighth Canadian has died because of the present battle, this time in Lebanon. One Canadian is taken into account lacking, the federal government says, although it is not going to say who that particular person is or the place they might be, citing privateness causes.
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The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs has mentioned 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 had been killed the day Hamas militants launched assaults from Gaza, and greater than 15,500 Palestinians have been killed within the almost two months of bombing since then.
On Saturday, an Worldwide Felony Court docket prosecutor mentioned his workplace is critical about transferring ahead to research allegations of warfare crimes on either side.
With recordsdata from the Canadian Press
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