Terry Newman: Quebec's anti-Israel protesters mimicking early tactics of FLQ terrorists
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In a video circulating on social media, protesters can be seen holding Palestinian flags. Viewers can hear the banging of pots in the background — a common protest accompaniment in Quebec. Several of those gathered have their faces covered with keffiyehs.
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Hamas loyalists showed up at the private residence of @melaniejoly while flashing messages on her wall under the approval & protection of the @SPVM pic.twitter.com/7w6wt3xDKB
— Leviathan (@l3v1at4an) August 8, 2025
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Also visible is a stream of mostly English words projected across the top of her apartment building, proclaiming, 'Melanie war criminal — every time Melanie lies a child in Gaza dies. Israel terrorist. Melanie complice (complicit).'
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An unidentified woman with short blonde hair and a keffiyeh draped over her shoulders speaks through a megaphone in French. Her words translate to: 'Canada's arming of Israel during this genocide is the greatest stain of our generation. Ms. Joly's actions warrant immediate consequences.' She did not elaborate on what she felt those consequences should be.
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This kind of aggressive and threatening behaviour toward politicians and school administrators who displease pro-Palestinian protesters in Montreal has escalated since the October 7 massacre.
In October 2023, not long after Hamas's barbaric attack on Israel, sit-ins were already being held at the Montreal offices of Liberal MPs David Lametti, Rachel Bendayan and Joly, who was then serving as minister of foreign affairs.
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The blood at the Nova Festival had barely dried, yet the protesters weren't there to condemn Hamas's actions. They were there to pressure MPs who had not yet signed a letter demanding a ceasefire. At the time, the Liberals still officially supported Israel's right to defend itself, though that seemed to be changing quickly — not even a month after the attacks, 33 MPs, including 23 Liberals, had already signed the letter.
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It was clear, even at the time, that there was a well-organized pressure campaign aimed at convincing MPs to speak out against Israel's war of self-defence. A Montreal Gazette report at the time noted that the demonstrations at political offices were 'part of a pan-Canadian series of sit-ins organizers said were taking place at 17 offices in 12 cities across the country in solidarity with Palestinians.'
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The campaign has continued ever since. On Dec. 18, 2023, a rally of about 50 protesters organized by the Palestine Solidarity Network Canada gathered outside Steven Guilbeault's Montreal constituency office to pressure him to support a ceasefire.
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