As the first anniversary of the deadly Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel approaches, a Montreal-based anti-Israel group plans to hold a rally outside the Israeli consulate in Canada to celebrate the “martyrs” of Hamas, the terrorist group who led the attack.
As first reported by the National Post, the Montreal Palestinian Youth Movement is organizing an anti-Israel pro-terrorism rally outside the “zionist consulate” at 1 Westmount Sq, in Montreal, Quebec, on the anniversary of Oct. 7. The deadly terror attack spearheaded by Hamas killed over 1,200 people and took 251 people hostage, 97 of those hostages are still in captivity.
“All out for our Maryrs, for our people, for our land, for Palestine!” the Instagram post by PYM Montreal said. “Join us as we march to honor the martyrs of the past year—and the past 76 years—who gave everything for their land, their dignity, and their liberation.”
The Palestinian Youth Movement has been a large part of the anti-Israel protest movement since Oct. 7. The group bills itself as a “transnational, independent, grassroots movement of young Palestinians in Palestine and in exile worldwide as a result of the ongoing Zionist colonization and occupation of our homeland.”
The group boasts it published the first English edition of an avowed Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine member Wiam Rafeedie’s novel, The Trinity Fundamentals. The Marxist-Leninist PFLP is a listed terrorist entity in Canada.
“We will not stand by while our governments fuel this violence,” the Instagram post continued. “We will rise and fill the streets because justice demands action, and silence is betrayal.”
The group also is organizing a protest on Oct. 5 at Place Des Arts on 1400 Saint-Urbain St., in Montreal, to mark “one year of resistance” since Oct. 7, 2023.
“Join us…to mark one year of genocide that has killed over 40,000 martyrs – a year during which our steadfast people in Gaza have shown the world that resistance is the only path to victory against Zionism,” the post said.
The death toll cited is from numbers from the Hamas-run Ministry of Health. The numbers do not distinguish between civilians and combatants. The PYM vows that “the Zionist entity” a term used to describe the Jewish state of Israel, will “fall.”
“For 100 years, our people have resisted against colonialism and will continue to resist until liberation. The struggle will live on until every inch of Palestine is liberated,” the post said “The fight continues.”
B’nai Brith Canada, a Canadian-Jewish community group, thinks it’s “absurd” that any protest glorifying the attacks of Oct. 7 should be tolerated in Canada.
“Rallies plan for October 7 to glorify and celebrate acts of terror and to desecrate the memory of the victims of the worst terror attack against the Jewish people since the Holocaust is inexcusable,” Rich Robertson, the director of research and advocacy at B’nai Brith told True North in an interview.
He said several rallies are planned across Canada for the same time. PYM’s Toronto contingent has an event planned for Oct. 5 at Yongue and Dundas Square.
“This October marks one year since our people in Gaza showed the world that the Palestinian people will continue to resist their continued displacement and dispossession by their colonize,” the group said.
Robertson said the presence of these rallies “runs contrary to Canadian values.”
“It has the capacity to only contribute to division in our society,” Robertson said. “They plan to glorify the martyrs of the Oct. 7 attack, and it’s really upsetting that on what should be a solemn day, a day to remember the innocent victims of terror, that protests will be taking place across the country to celebrate their murder.”
Montreal has hosted a slew of anti-Israel events and incidents since Oct. 7. During the summer, the city was home to multiple anti-Israel protest encampments, such as at McGill University and Concordia University.
In July, Montreal Hate Crimes began investigating an electronic traffic sign which was hijacked to say messages that many Jewish community groups say are calls for antisemitic violence globally. And In August, protesters disrupted a Pride season parade. Since Oct. 7, Montreal has also been one of the cities where residents proudly promoted Jihad or holy wars and, in some cases, lauded and pledged allegiance to Hamas leadership.
When asked for a response to the protest, a spokesperson for Montreal’s Mayor Valarie Plant sent a tweet the mayor made in solidarity with those calling for a ceasefire in Lebanon, Palestine and Israel.
