Montrealers mourn and protest to mark Oct. 7
Montreal students and supporters showed their grief and anger at protests and vigils as they marked the anniversary of the current war between Israel and Gaza.
A vigil started at 12:30 p.m. in front of McGill University to commemorate those who were killed over the last year and show support for the hostages still being held. Though it was organized by students, people of all ages came carrying signs with names and photos of hostages and those killed on Oct. 7.
A handful of Palestinian flags were seen flying across the street, though a heavy police presence prevented counter-protesters to approach the vigil.
Pro-Palestinian protesters met at Concordia's Hall Building at 2 p.m. in solidarity with the thousands who were killed by Israeli forces in Gaza and Lebanon. They demand an end to the war and the siege on Gaza.
Monday marks one year since Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking some 250 hostages in the Gaza Strip, according to Israeli tallies.
Since then, Israel killed more than 40,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, with more trapped under rubble. The heavy bombing caused mass destruction and famine, while 90 per cent of the besieged territory's population was displaced from their homes.
McGill has been restricting access to its campuses as of Saturday and moved some classes online in anticipation of potential tensions and clashes between protesters.
"[President Deep] Saini can close campus but he will never silence the student movement," said Students for Palestine's Honour (SPHR) McGill and SPHR Concordia in an Instagram post.
Police prepare for protests and counter-protests at McGill University on Oct. 7, 2024. (Angela MacKenzie, CTV News)
More than 340 protests related to the Israel-Hamas war have taken place in Montreal since last October, with police making more than 100 arrests. Montreal police began putting more officers on the ground on Oct. 1 and said it would continue to do so until Oct. 24.
Chana Leah Natanblut, the president of Chabad Concordia, said the vigil was a way for the community to get together and mourn. She said they didn't have time to do so amid all the protests.
"It felt like the wound was just being reopened before it even had time to properly close," she said.
Leon Novodvorets, a McGill student born in Israel, said it's "been a hard year for everyone" and wants to send the message that "no one is going through this alone."
He also said his birthplace "shouldn't have to affect any part of my relationship with my fellow students, we're here to learn."
Violence in the Middle East continued to escalate in recent months, namely in Lebanon. Israel killed more than 1,000 people and injured another 6,000 in airstrikes on Lebanon since Sept. 21 after increased rocket exchanges with militant group Hezbollah.
The pro-Palestinian protesters, most of which were students, marched from Concordia University to the McGill campus while drumming, waving Palestinian flags and chanting "free Palestine." They demanded that their institutions divest from companies they say are tied to the Israeli military and say they will continue to protest until the violence ends.
An SPHR McGill representative who wished to remain anonymous said it's important to rally and commemorate the one-year mark "since the beginning of this genocide" and demand "immediate divestment."
"We have seen that this war is not ending and is actually expanding," she said. "The tunrout today is reaffirming that the students and the masses here in this city are not tired and they will continue mobilizing and marching for Palestine."
Police said there were some disturbances during the pro-Palestinian march, including broken windows and graffiti, but no arrests have been made, according to Montreal police chief Fady Dagher.
Pro-Palestinian protesters gathered in front McGill's Redpath library Monday. (Olivia O'Malley, CTV News)
Loss of life 'unjustifiable'
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took to social media to reiterate Canada's support of Israel while condemning Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran.
"The scale of civilian casualties since October 7 is heartbreaking and uncceptable, and all actors must comply with international law. The suffering must end," he added.
Quebec politicians also expressed their condolences to both Israelis and Palestinians.
"On this sad anniversary, we can only hope for a peaceful resolution to this conflict," said Quebec Premier François Legault on X.
Quebec Solidaire co-spokesperson Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois said his thoughts are with those still waiting to hear back from their loved ones who were taken hostage. He also said the loss of civilian life in Gaza is "unjustifiable."
"Benjamin Netanyahu's government has exceeded all limits, starting with those of international law and human compassion," he wrote on X.
"All peoples of the world have the right to self-determination, security and peace, and this is also true for the peoples of Palestine and Israel."
With files from Angela MacKenzie and Olivia O'Malley
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Live election results: Trump elected 47th U.S. president
Donald Trump was elected the 47th president of the United States on Wednesday, clearing the 270 electoral votes needed to clinch the presidency.
BREAKING Trump wins the White House in political comeback rooted in appeals to frustrated voters
Donald Trump was elected the 47th president of the United States on Wednesday, an extraordinary comeback for a former president who refused to accept defeat four years ago, sparked a violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, was convicted of felony charges and survived two assassination attempts.
PM Trudeau congratulates Donald Trump on presidential victory
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau congratulated Donald Trump early Wednesday morning on his second United States presidential election win.
Trump's second term will look nothing like his first
Donald Trump's election victory will return him to the White House, but both his allies and detractors have made clear his second time around will look nothing like the first.
Republicans take U.S. Senate majority and eye unified power with Trump
Republicans have taken control of the U.S. Senate and are fighting to keep their majority in the U.S. House, which would produce a full sweep of GOP power in Congress alongside U.S. President-elect Donald Trump in the White House.
Hurricane Rafael becomes a Category 2 storm as it barrels toward Cuba
Hurricane Rafael strengthened into a Category 2 storm on Wednesday just hours before it was forecast to make landfall on Wednesday in western Cuba.
'I'm still in shock': Brampton, Ont. landlord caught in e-transfer interception fraud
A Brampton, Ont. landlord says he's shocked after two e-transfers he was meant to receive were blocked from his account by scammers.
B.C. parents sue Irish nanny for quitting on short notice
Two parents filed a lawsuit in B.C. Supreme Court last week seeking damages from their former nanny, alleging she quit on short notice and "never said goodbye to the children."
Blues forward leaves rink on stretcher after being struck in neck by puck
St. Louis Blues forward Dylan Holloway left Tuesday night's contest against the Tampa Bay Lightning and departed the rink on a stretcher after being struck by a puck late in the first period.