Title: Canadian Events Commemorating October 7 Attacks Draw Criticism

Families of Hamas victims and Jewish organizations in Canada are expressing strong disapproval of planned events that commemorate the "martyrs of Palestine" on the second anniversary of the October 7 attacks. Raquel Look, a Montreal resident whose son, Alexandre, was killed during the attacks, stated, "When you think they can’t sink any lower, they do." Alexandre Look, a 33-year-old Canadian, was attending the Nova Music Festival in Re’im, Israel, when he was murdered. His mother described the painful wait for his body to return home, saying, "I had to wait three weeks for Alex’s body to come home, and it was a hell I don’t wish upon anyone."

Social media posts indicate that events are scheduled at several Canadian universities, including Concordia, McGill, and the University of Toronto. One event at the University of Toronto Mississauga is promoted as "honouring our martyrs," with a gathering planned for 3 p.m. on Tuesday outside the student center. The student union's Instagram post states, "We remember our martyrs, we honour their legacy, and we continue the fight for a free Palestine." Another post from an account called "Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights McGill" announced a rally at Concordia’s Hall Building at 1 p.m., urging students to take action in support of Palestine.

Jewish students and faculty at various Canadian universities have reported feeling unsafe on campus in recent years, citing incidents of antisemitism and attacks. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service previously warned that the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict has led to increased "violent rhetoric" from extremist groups, which could incite violence in Canada. Two years ago, Hamas gunmen killed approximately 1,200 people and took 251 hostages, prompting a military response from Israel. The health ministry in Gaza claims that Israeli actions have resulted in around 67,139 deaths, a figure disputed by Israel, which includes both combatants and civilians.

Iddo Moed, Israel’s ambassador to Canada, expressed his dismay over the planned events, stating, "It pains me to learn of a series of events planned in cities across Canada to commemorate the ‘martyrs’ of October 7." He emphasized that honoring the perpetrators of violence is deeply hurtful to Israelis and contradicts democratic values. Moed called on all Canadians to unite against hate and urged leaders at all levels of government to reject messages of hate while remembering the victims of the attacks.

Raquel Look recounted the harrowing moments of the attack, explaining that her son called her early that morning to inform her of the terrorist incident. He and his friends sought shelter nearby, but during the call, he said, "There’s a lot of them. Mommy, I can’t talk now," before the line went dead. Look described hearing her son fighting with a terrorist and the chaos that ensued, saying, "We heard shots, lots of shots, and sounds of grenades."

Richard Robertson, director of research and advocacy for B’nai Brith Canada, condemned the events, stating, "It is disgraceful that, on Canadian streets, some now plan vigils that celebrate the atrocities that claimed thousands of lives, including eight Canadians." He asserted that celebrating terrorism is not a form of free expression and is an affront to victims of violence and Canadian values. Robertson urged Canadians to remain vigilant against extremism and to ensure public spaces are not used to promote acts of terror.

Noah Shack, CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, expressed alarm at the prospect of terrorists being memorialized in Canada, referencing recent violence against Jews in Manchester as a concerning trend. He called for authorities to hold accountable anyone who breaks the law during these events and emphasized the need for government action to combat incitement.

In response to the planned events, the Jewish student organization Hillel announced on social media that it would offer to accompany students in Montreal to class on Tuesday, seeking volunteers to help ensure their safety.