Toronto Palestinian Convoy Calls for Ceasefire in Middle East
Downtown Toronto witnessed a passionate display of solidarity with Palestine on Saturday as a convoy traveled from Pickering, Ont., to call for an end to the ongoing violence in the Middle East.
The demonstration, named Ride for Gaza, commenced in the east of Toronto and headed towards Nathan Phillips Square throughout the afternoon. Chanting and waving Palestinian flags, the protestors demanded an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. As the demonstration progressed southwards towards Lake Ontario, rolling road closures were implemented in their wake.
“A large group of demonstrators are marching from Nathan Phillips Square — the route is unknown at this time,” announced Toronto police in a social media post on Saturday.
During the course of the demonstration, the Gardiner on-ramp at Bay Street was briefly closed. By 4:30 p.m. Saturday, the rally had reached Front Street and University Avenue, according to police reports.
The event took place amidst ongoing violence in the Middle East.
Hamas Attack Spurs Israeli Response
On October 7, Hamas, a group designated as a terrorist organization by the Canadian government, launched a deadly attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip. Responding swiftly, Israel commenced a weeks-long airstrike campaign on Gaza and prepared for a full-scale military operation.
The conflict has resulted in the loss of thousands of lives among Israelis and Palestinians, with both communities in Toronto regularly organizing demonstrations in solidarity with their respective causes.
Rally Highlights Gaza Strip Casualties
The recent demonstration at Nathan Phillips Square was specifically organized to draw attention to the civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip. One attendee, Maysaa Sakri, emphasized that the rally was held to advocate for the “freedom of Palestine” and to remember the children who have tragically lost their lives in the ongoing conflict.
“We’re tired. We’re tired of seeing this,” Sakri said. “Gaza doesn’t have a voice right here, but we are the voice.”
However, prior to the start of the demonstration, concerns were raised by a prominent Jewish group regarding a doctored poster suggesting support for Hamas. An altered version of the flyer falsely indicated that “bikers for Hamas” planned to ride through the Toronto Jewish Community.
Jewish Community Raises Concerns
The United Jewish Appeal Federation of Greater Toronto expressed concerns about the doctored poster, and contacted the police, stating that it was an “unacceptable attempt to provoke our community and escalate tensions.”
The organizers of the event clarified on Instagram that their rally had been misrepresented and the graphic had been manipulated. They emphasized that the rally was peaceful, not directed at the Jewish community, and condemned all forms of antisemitism.
“We want to emphasize that the rally is peaceful, does not target the Jewish community, and we condemn any and all forms of antisemitism,” stated their official statement.
In a press briefing, Deputy Toronto Police Chief Lauren Pogue confirmed that multiple demonstrations were planned throughout the weekend. The police presence in demonstration areas and neighborhoods across the city was increased to ensure lawful protests. However, Pogue made it clear that any form of intimidation, harassment, or hate-motivated behavior towards specific communities would not be tolerated.
As of 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Toronto police reported that no arrests had been made during the peaceful demonstration.
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