In the last several months, so-called pro-Palestinian demonstrators, aligned with union and university student organizations, have taken to the streets nationwide, calling for a ceasefire as Israel continues its fight to free remaining hostages from Hamas following the October 7 massacre.
During the 2023 holiday season, these activists targeted festivities, aiming to convey the message to Canadians that there are “no festivities during a genocide.” The actions included violence towards those who disagreed and displayed rabid antisemitism towards the Jewish community, all while law enforcement watched.
Increased security at Toronto’s Eaton Centre as anti-Israel protesters plan to cancel Christmas and storm into the mall.
Roaming squads of police are seen.
Stay tuned for my updates here for @rebelnewsonline and at https://t.co/cIlPZDMsJ1 where you can sign our petition. pic.twitter.com/w0pbptxWAu
— Efrain Flores Monsanto 🇨🇦🚛 (@realmonsanto) December 23, 2023
In mid-December, various factions of anti-Israel protesters nationwide targeted malls. Families, including those with young children, who were trying to take photos with Santa, found their moments interrupted by the screams of the “pro-Palestine” mob.
In Toronto, a pro-Hamas thug inside Eaton Centre, protesting against the clothing company Zara, issued a death threat. The threat, “I’ll cut you 6 feet deep,” initially appeared directed at a uniformed officer. However, Toronto Police Deputy Chief Lauren Pogue later confirmed that the expression was intended for one of the pro-Israel counter-protesters.
Toronto police Deputy Chief Lauren Pogue claims video showing an anti-Israel protester threatening to kill a police officer was instead directed at a member of the public, who was “antagonistic” to the pro-Hamas rally inside the mall.
MORE: https://t.co/lHypr1IBCs pic.twitter.com/4nLicxMhmu
— Rebel News (@RebelNewsOnline) December 22, 2023
The following weekend, a call for action aimed at canceling Christmas led to the takeover of Yonge and Dundas Square and a march through the streets. This action extended to the Toronto winter festival, previously organized. During the event, participants chanted in unison, making the false claim that Jesus was Palestinian and expressing wishes for a happy new year “from the river to the sea.”
Increased security at Toronto’s Eaton Centre as anti-Israel protesters plan to cancel Christmas and storm into the mall.
Roaming squads of police are seen.
Stay tuned for my updates here for @rebelnewsonline and at https://t.co/cIlPZDMsJ1 where you can sign our petition. pic.twitter.com/w0pbptxWAu
— Efrain Flores Monsanto 🇨🇦🚛 (@realmonsanto) December 23, 2023
Rebel News documented the police response to the mob’s demand on the ground, observing squads of police patrolling the mall and guarding the front entrance. “Queers 4 Palestine,” a part of the anti-Israel crowd, took over the square. Meanwhile, Toronto police scolded several pro-Israel and pro-Canada counter-protesters for displaying their respective flags and signs denouncing the terrorist group, Hamas.
BREAKING: Toronto police shove a woman holding Israeli and Canadian flags and a sign calling Hamas a terrorist group.https://t.co/cIlPZDMsJ1 for more. pic.twitter.com/vFQTs3ukJr
— Efrain Flores Monsanto 🇨🇦🚛 (@realmonsanto) December 23, 2023
The police went as far as to shove a woman holding the flags of Israel and Canada off the road due to concerns that she might incite violence from the pro-Hamas crowd
“Ma’am I’m not playing around with you” the officer said, “Don’t push me!” the woman responded.
WATCH: @SalmanSima is intimidated by Toronto police as he supports Canada and Israel in front of the pro-Hamas Christmas cancelation rally on the sidewalk.
Reportedly he’s hospitalized with a dislocated shoulder after being assaulted by thugs.https://t.co/cIlPZDMsJ1 for more. pic.twitter.com/RVMpmzs1Mh
— Efrain Flores Monsanto 🇨🇦🚛 (@realmonsanto) December 23, 2023
Freedom activist Salman Sima was also harassed by law enforcement for being too pro-Canadian in front of the anti-Israel crowd. “I choose my freedom over safety, okay,” he remarked to the police who prevented him from walking to Yonge and Dundas with his Christmas poster and Canadian flag. A police officer is seen in footage posted by 6ixBuzzTV berating Sima for holding the flag, with threats that he’ll “just take it” off his hands if it waves too close to him.
Pro-Hamas supporters try to block Israel supporters from walking on a Toronto sidewalk.
They grab the Israeli flag and their signs while shoving women.
This was behind the Palestinian Christmas cancelation March.https://t.co/cIlPZDLUTt pic.twitter.com/26EuJcJ6GP
— Efrain Flores Monsanto 🇨🇦🚛 (@realmonsanto) December 23, 2023
Later on during the rally, the anti-Israel mob blocked the pro-Canada protesters from walking through the streets of Toronto. One of them even ripped the Israeli and Canadian flags from a woman, stomping on them before running away.
Palestinian protesters attack two Iranian political prisoners @SalmanSima and @sadeghinoor and steal their Lion and Sun flag.
While I’m filming, one of them grabbed my phone and threw it into the crowd. pic.twitter.com/D71ls6isdd— Daniel Bordman (@Ranting4Canada) December 23, 2023
As the march to cancel Christmas continued to Nathan Phillips Square, footage posted by Daniel Bordman on X (formerly known as Twitter) shows pro-Palestinian individuals violently attacking them. The attackers attempted to rip their flags and were surrounded by the mob, but the pro-Canada protesters managed to keep their flags intact.
They ended up dislocating Sima’s shoulder, and he was later hospitalized. Police made no charges or arrests. The anti-Israel mob then, in the early evening, went back to Eaton Centre and again disrupted shoppers inside while police stood by and escorted them outside. The activists continued their protests against the holidays, and the following week on December 26, the day after Christmas and the last weekend before the new year.
At this same time, the bridge on Avenue Road in Toronto was targeted, given its proximity to the Jewish neighborhood. Meir Weinstein, a pro-Israel activist, has been documenting the Toronto police shutting down the entire street, preventing access to the 401, as the anti-Israel crowd demonstrates and waves flags and pro-Palestinian banners on the overpass.
Pro Hamas Gangs storm into the Toronto Jewish Community at Wilson and Avenue Road today. Watch and share the video which reveals the threat to the safety of the Jewish Community. We cannot be silent any more. pic.twitter.com/6RXchrjeFv
— [email protected] (@neveragainlive1) December 31, 2023
In another video, one of the protesters is seen yelling at a Jewish man to “get the hell out of Canada.”
Even New Year’s Eve was disrupted by the mob.
“No celebration until liberation!” a woman with the pro-Hamas crowd shouted in downtown Toronto.
Pro Hamas supporters disrupting New Years Eve Celebrations in Toronto chanting against the Celebrations. This is beyond sickening. Where are the police. pic.twitter.com/xycRhYoBRy
— [email protected] (@neveragainlive1) January 1, 2024
In the nation’s capital, an Ottawa Fitness trainer posted a video of his own celebrations that included the rabid ripping up of an Israeli flag and driving over it several times in a live lane of traffic.
“Best way to start off my new year,” the post read.
At the same time, Montreal had its faction out in full protest, with a man calling for violence.
#Montreal. December 31, 2023.
The same groups demanding a “ceasefire” are the ones yelling that their New Year’s Resolution is “Intifada! Revolution.”Calls for intifada are calls for violence against Jews. These hate-filled calls must be addressed. #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/1Hkq0C9C1c
— CIJA (@CIJAinfo) January 2, 2024
“New Years Resolution, Intifada revolution!”