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Ceremonies in Ottawa to mark Israel’s Independence Day on May 14 are back on.
In a statement issued Friday, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said he’s asked the police chief, city staff and members of Ottawa’s Jewish community to come up with a plan to commemorate the day “while protecting the security and safety of everyone involved.”
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The city cancelled the ceremony earlier this week because of security concerns due to the ongoing war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas.
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Since 2007, the city, in conjunction with Global Affairs Canada, has raised the flags of more than 190 nations with which Canada has diplomatic relations to mark their national days of celebration or independence. Because of the ongoing conflict and the protests it has brought, the city said Tuesday it would fly Israel’s flag, but there wouldn’t be the usual public ceremony accompanying it.
The next day, Sutcliffe said he was “disappointed” with that decision and on Friday, went a step further.
“Like all residents of our city, Ottawa’s Jewish community deserves to gather whenever it chooses in an environment that is free from hate, violence, and racism,” Sutcliffe said in a statement Friday.
“This is fundamental to a city that is free and democratic. Over the past two days, I have listened carefully to members of the community and I agree that they, and everyone in our community, should be able to hold events in public spaces without fear of threats and intimidation. My responsibility is to do everything possible to protect the safety of all members of our community. I’ve asked the chief of police and city officials to work with the Jewish Federation of Ottawa on a plan for an event to mark Israel’s Independence Day while protecting the security and safety of everyone involved,” Sutcliffe said.
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“We must ensure that members of the Jewish community — and all residents of our city — can gather whenever they choose to do so in safety, and free from intimidation and fear. We must continue to support our Jewish community, which is experiencing increasingly higher levels of anti-semitism. Let’s all work together to ensure our city is safe and free from violence and racism in all its forms.”
The war began on Oct. 7 with Hamas’ surprise attack into southern Israel, in which it killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took another 250 hostage. Israel says Hamas is still holding some 100 captives and the remains of more than 30 others after most of the rest were released during a cease-fire last year.
The war has killed more than 34,800 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry and as reported by The Associated Press. Israel’s offensive has caused widespread devastation and forced some 80 per cent of Gaza’s population to flee their homes.
Pro-Palestinian protesters have marched weekly in the capital, while pro-Palestinian encampments have sprung up at the University of Ottawa and other universities around the world.
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