Hundreds gather for Israel's Independence Day celebration at Montreal park
Hundreds of people waving Israeli flags gathered at Macdonald Park in the Côte-des-Neiges—Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough Thursday to celebrate Israel's 77th Independence Day.
The Independence Day rally, known as Yom Ha'atzmaut, is normally held downtown, but event spokesperson Anthony Koch said it was moved to the park for security reasons.
'In the last few years, things have gotten a little bit heated,' Koch said, referring to rising global tensions following the Hamas attack on Israel Oct. 7, 2023, and subsequent Israeli military operations in Gaza. 'The cops wanted to make sure that, unlike in past years, they could reasonably ... limit safety concerns.'
By 10 a.m., more than a dozen counter-protesters — mostly Hasidic Jewish men — had gathered across the park, waving Palestinian flags. One shouted through a megaphone, 'Shame on you! You're not a Jew!'
This story was originally published May 1, 2025 at 11:07 AM.
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SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The protests come more than a week after Israel's security cabinet approved plans to capture Gaza City, following 22 months of war that have created dire humanitarian conditions in the Palestinian territory. The war was triggered by Palestinian militant group Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel, during which 251 people were taken hostage. Forty-nine captives remain in Gaza, including 27 the Israeli military says are dead. A huge Israeli flag covered with portraits of the remaining captives was unfurled in Tel Aviv's so-called Hostage Square — which has long been a focal point for protests throughout the war. Demonstrators also blocked several roads in the city, including the highway connecting Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, where demonstrators set tires on fire and caused traffic jams, according to local media footage. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Protest organisers called for a general strike to demand a hostage release deal. (Menahem Kahana/AFP) Photo by Menahem Kahana / AFP Protest organizers and the main campaign group representing the families of hostages also called for a general strike on Sunday — the first day of the week in Israel. In Jerusalem and in Tel Aviv, many businesses were shut. 'I think it's time to end the war. It's time to release all of the hostages. 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