Toronto City Councillor James Pasternak has expressed serious concerns about a planned anti-Israel protest in the city’s east end. He described the event as a potential harassment of Israel and the Jewish community. “We’ve been putting up with this lawlessness for close to two years, and as long as there’s minimal consequences, it will continue,” Pasternak said in a phone interview. He emphasized the seriousness of threats against critical city infrastructure, regardless of whether they turn out to be hoaxes.

The protest, organized by pro-Palestinian groups, is scheduled to take place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday. Participants plan to make noise with signs, pots, and pans at subway stops along the Bloor-Danforth line, from Kipling to Main stations. The organizers are demanding an immediate arms embargo and an end to what they describe as Canada’s complicity in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

This protest is part of a broader wave of anti-Israel demonstrations that have occurred globally since the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and sparked a war in the region. In response to the conflict, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand stated that Canadian-made weapons would not be permitted to fuel the violence, and that export permits for materials that could be used in Gaza are being denied.

A report from Israel’s Ministry for Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism has classified the Toronto protest as high risk. The event is being organized by East End Acts, along with other groups such as World BEYOND War Canada and the Palestinian Youth Movement Toronto. Collectively, these organizations have over 137,000 followers on Instagram.

The report highlights concerns about the protest’s potential to disrupt pedestrian and vehicular movement in a densely populated area. While there are no explicit calls for violence, the confrontational nature of the protest and its location could lead to clashes with bystanders or counter-protesters.

Councillor Brad Bradford echoed Pasternak’s concerns, stating on social media that threats to shut down transit are “dangerous and unacceptable.” In response to the criticism from Pasternak and Bradford, East End Acts released a statement claiming that their actions are being misrepresented to intimidate those opposed to the situation in Gaza.

On Tuesday morning, Vince Gasparro, the MP for Eglinton-Lawrence, shared a letter addressed to Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow. He warned that the planned demonstrations could disrupt transportation infrastructure and exacerbate divisions within the community. Gasparro noted an increase in “hatred and intimidation” toward the Jewish community since the October attacks and offered federal support to help protect the city’s infrastructure.

Both the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) and Toronto Police Services are aware of the planned protest. Toronto police spokesperson Stephanie Sayer stated that the priority is to ensure public safety and minimize disruptions. Officers will be present to monitor the situation and respond to any issues that may arise.