Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has highlighted a significant increase in antisemitism in Canada following the Hamas attack on Israel and Israel’s subsequent air strikes in Gaza.
He cited reports of a possible hate crime at a Jewish high school in Toronto, fears among visitors to synagogues due to potential attacks, and heated online rhetoric as examples of the rising antisemitism in Canada.
Police in Toronto arrested three men after making threats at the Community Hebrew Academy, and have increased patrols in Jewish cultural centres, synagogues, and other places of worship.
Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau condemned Hamas and supported Israel’s right to self-defence, stating that Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people or their legitimate aspirations. A Hamas rampage on October 7 left 1,300 dead and 200 as hostages in the Gaza Strip.
Israel has bombarded Gaza, killing at least 3,000 people, and a hospital attack on Tuesday killed 500 Palestinians, with Israeli and Palestinian officials blaming each other.
