A massive crowd rallied to protests in the heart of Toronto against an incident that claimed hundreds of lives in Gaza City. The focal point of the large-scale demonstration was an Israeli consulate. The tragedy had unfolded on Tuesday when a significant explosion at Al-Ahli Hospital resulted in the death of innumerable individuals.
As the evening drew near at around 7 p.m., demonstrators gathered along Yonge Street and just beyond Bloor Street. Some participants waved the Palestinian colors, while some hoisted placards advocating for the freedom of Palestine. Chanting phrases like “The occupation’s got to go” and “Hands off Gaza,” the protestors had a united front.
As the night progressed, the rally proceeded to the nearby intersection, causing a block on the streets and resulting in police intervention to divert the traffic.
A woman among the protestors shared her sentiments about the catastrophe at Al-Ahli Hospital. Her chilling words echoed the unfortunate fate of the civilians, revealing that an entire generation had lost valuable lives full of potential – unborn children, youths and adults waiting for a bright future; some eager to get married and others to graduate.
Her grief highlighted the miserable state that Gaza was in, stating the gruesome conditions as inhumane. She insisted on how intolerable the situation had grown, mentioning that too many lives were unjustly lost, branding the scenario as dreadful.
The blame game over the tragic incident was intense. Israel’s military forces and Hamas both pointed fingers at each other regarding the explosion in the hospital. The official statement from the health ministry estimated the death toll to be close to 500 lives. While Hamas held an Israeli airstrike responsible, the Israel military denied their participation, blaming a rogue attack orchestrated by the Islamic Jihad.
This radical Palestinian group is notorious for collaboration with Hamas in their shared discord against Israel. However, the group vehemently accused Israel of dodging accountability for their alleged role in the massacre.
A significant incident in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the “Emergency Action for Gaza” rally is one of many being carried out throughout the nation. The Palestinian Youth Movement, the organiser of the event, has been hosting similar rallies since the conflict between Israel and Hamas escalated.
Tarek, a participant in the rally, was there to show his support for relatives back in Gaza suffering due to the ongoing violence. He criticized the Israeli forces for their attack on innocent civilians and residential properties, alleging that it contradicted their official stance of targeting Hamas. He appealed to Canada’s government and United Nations to oppose Israel’s aggression and collectively strive for peace.
The demonstration dispersed peacefully just before 11 p.m. with an instance of a single arrest, as reported by Toronto police. Though precise information on the circumstances of the arrest was not divulged.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, condemning the situation, called the whole episode “absolutely unacceptable.” He expressed in strong terms, stating that bombing a hospital is not only intolerable but against legal norms.
Earlier, on Tuesday, the University of Toronto St. George campus witnessed parallels protests in support of both Israeli and Palestinians. However, tensions escalated between both factions, leading the campus security to intervene and physically separate both demonstrations.
