TORONTO - Tensions escalated outside the Toronto International Film Festival on Tuesday as protesters clashed over a documentary detailing a retired Israeli general's rescue mission during the Hamas attacks on October 7. The film, titled "The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue," directed by Barry Avrich, chronicles Noam Tibon's efforts to save his family amid the violence that resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the abduction of 251.

As the film premiered at Roy Thomson Hall, police on bicycles and horseback managed the crowd of pro-Palestinian protesters and counter-protesters. The atmosphere grew heated during a post-screening Q-and-A session when moderator Lisa LaFlamme mentioned Israel's military response, which has led to an estimated 64,000 Palestinian deaths. Audience members reacted with boos and shouts of "check your facts."

Gali Tibon, Noam's wife, spoke during the Q-and-A, expressing her belief that the war in Gaza should have ended sooner. "The war on Gaza should have stopped a long time ago and it could have stopped a time long ago. It would do good to everybody in the region, but especially to Israel," she said. Her comments were met with mixed reactions from the audience.

Noam Tibon called for an end to the conflict and the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. "I think that two years of war is a long time, and Israel is suffering a lot from this year," he stated, receiving applause from some attendees. He also urged for a formal investigation into the military's response to the October 7 attacks, labeling it a significant failure for Israel.

Outside the venue, pro-Palestinian protesters chanted slogans like "Free Palestine," with some labeling the documentary as "Israeli propaganda" without having seen it. Protester Emma Chadwick expressed her support for the protests, stating, "I feel that in the face of governmental — and other groups such as TIFF, people with high profiles — in the face of their inaction, I feel that what we have is our own action."

The documentary's team emphasized that they are storytellers rather than political activists. They aim to stimulate debate from various perspectives. The film is described as a "rescue thriller" that combines interviews and footage from the October 7 attacks.

The festival had initially pulled the film from its lineup due to security concerns but reinstated it after backlash from various groups. Several Palestinian films are also featured at TIFF, including "Palestine 36," which explores the region's history during British control.

Since the onset of the conflict, local health officials report that over 64,000 Palestinians have died, with women and children comprising about half of the casualties. The United Nations and other international bodies continue to debate the classification of the situation as genocide, with a case against Israel currently before the U.N.'s highest court.