Demonstrators converged on downtown Ottawa Saturday afternoon as part of a global day of action to protest Israel’s military actions in the Middle East.
The rally is being organized as part of the Palestinian Youth Movement’s “National Day for Action for Palestine.” It began on Parliament Hill at 2 p.m. and is continuing into the afternoon with marchers heading down Rideau Street towards the Byward Market.
Demonstrators are waving Lebanese and Palestinian flags while holding signs calling for an “immediate and permanent” ceasefire in Gaza nearly one year after the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. The demonstrations are also being held in solidary with Lebanon as Israel ramped up missile attacks against the country in recent weeks.
“One year of genocide. One year of resistance. After twelve months of tireless mobilization and unrelenting struggle, the masses of the world will gather this October 5 from wherever we are to rally in support of our steadfast people across all our lands, from Rafah to Beirut,” an Instagram post from the Palestinian Youth Movement says.
Ottawa police says to expect traffic impacts in and around the ByWard Market area.
Oct. 5 has become a national day of action for pro-Palestinian movements around the world to mark the one-year anniversary of the war and to honour the outpouring of solidarity with Gaza.
In a social media post on Wednesday, the Ottawa Police Service said it is increasing its presence and patrols around Jewish and Islamic places of worship, as well as community centers.
“We recognize that next week, October 7th, marks the beginning of hostilities. We are closely monitoring the situation and assessing any potential impacts on our local community,” Ottawa police said.
“Our priority is the safety and security of all community members, and we remain committed to fostering a peaceful and supportive environment during this time.”
The Toronto Police and York Regional Police also announced they would be deploying additional patrols through the weekend and Monday.
Israel declared war in response to an unprecedented cross-border attack on Oct. 7 in which the militant group Hamas killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 250 others hostage. It was the deadliest attack in Israel’s history and the deadliest for Jews since the Holocaust.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed over 41,000 Palestinians, according to local health authorities, who do not say how many were fighters but say a little more than half were women and children. The military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence.
With files from The Associated Press