Canadians pay tribute to Oct. 7 victims, hostages in cross-country events
Emotional mourners gathered by the hundreds in cities across Canada on Sunday to honour the victims of Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack on Israel that sparked the still raging war in Gaza and roiled tensions in the Middle East and beyond.
In the nation’s capital, a sea of Israeli flags could be seen draped over participants in front of Ottawa City Hall, with Canadian flags waving alongside them as they called for the release of hostages still being held in Gaza.
They later marched to Parliament Hill, where Liberal MP Mona Fortier, Conservative MP Shuvaloy Majumdar and rabbis were among those delivering speeches at an event to mark the sombre anniversary.
Hamas’s incursion into Israel last Oct. 7 saw more than 1,200 Israelis killed and about 240 hostages seized. It immediately triggered an Israeli counter-offensive in Gaza that the regional health ministry says has left more than 41,000 dead and continues to this day.
Among Sunday’s speakers on Parliament Hill was Rachel Look, whose son Alexander was killed while attending a music festival in Israel on the day of the attack.
She said it was overwhelming to see everyone on the eve of the anniversary, and spoke of her son’s courage and determination in protecting his friends and strangers during the attack.
“The rise of antisemitism in Canada and globally cannot continue… We must send a strong message against violence, against terror, against Jew hatred,” she told the crowd.
“Let us pray for the immediate release of our hostages that remain in Gaza, for our family in Israel who are also grieving or displaced.”
An increased police presence was evident along the march route, with several uniformed officers present around the crowd.
Fortier said she can only imagine the horrors of Oct.
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