Demonstrations by Palestinian and Israeli supporters ended in clashes
There are wounded.
This past weekend, demonstrations against the Palestinian-Israeli conflict took place in various Canadian cities. Supporters of both Palestine and Israel took to the streets, and the Canadian Jewish Human Rights Group held a virtual event in solidarity with Israel.
The events were preceded by confrontations between Israeli and Palestinian forces in the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian territory previously (until 2005) under Israeli control, as well as the firing of rockets by the Islamist Hamas organization into Israel — an event that caused the suspension of Air Canada flights to Tel Aviv.
In Winnipeg, pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel demonstrators were separated by dozens of police officers. Despite the tension between the groups, law enforcement officials said there were no arrests. The Winnipeg Jewish Federation said before the demonstration that the event was held without consultation with the city's organized Jewish community, and the Federation did not encourage the rally to come out.
In Ottawa, organizations representing the city's Palestinian community gathered at the Human Rights Monument to condemn Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip and other Palestinian territories, while supporters of Israel organized a rally the next day.
New Democratic Party of Canada (NDP) MP Jack Harris came to a protest in St. John's by supporters of Palestine. He said the country is not doing enough for peace and justice in the Middle East. Demonstrations were also held in other cities: Edmonton, Calgary, Halifax, etc. No incidents were reported.
And in Montreal, peaceful rallies turned into clashes. Pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian demonstrations took place in the city centre just a few blocks from each other. Thousands of pro-Palestinian supporters called on the Canadian government to come to the aid of the Palestinians and boycott goods from Israel. But then they began attacking pro-Israel demonstrators and throwing rocks at them, Jewish organizations in Montreal announced after the protests. Police had to use tear gas to disperse the crowd and then chased the pro-Palestinian protesters. Later, several patrol cars were vandalized. Fifteen people were arrested and 76 fines were issued during the demonstrations, and at least one person and three police officers were injured. Police did not say who started the conflict at the rallies.
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Things didn't go smoothly in Toronto either. Thousands of demonstrators came to City Hall to condemn the violence against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Supporters of Israel have also gathered there. Media reported that police set up barriers between protesters, but the day after the rally, several Canadian Jewish organizations released claims that pro-Palestinian supporters attacked pro-Israel demonstrators. Police said three people were arrested, one of whom came to the rally with a gun.
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs said protests in Montreal and Toronto included aggressive acts of anti-Semitism, including images of Nazis, threats against supporters of Israel and at least one physical attack. Police declined to give details.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he condemned the violence that took place at the demonstrations.
