Warning: The following content includes a depiction of the burning of the Israeli flag.
Massive pro-Palestinian protests took over downtown Montreal on Tuesday afternoon as part of a series of organized demonstrations commemorating two years of conflict in Gaza.
Several CEGEP and university student groups in the city, representing over 46,000 students, voted to go on strike on Monday and Tuesday to show solidarity with Palestinians and the victims of Israeli military actions in Gaza over the past two years.
By 1 p.m., protesters, many adorned with keffiyehs, gathered at the intersection of Mackay Street and de Maisonneuve Boulevard, with a strong police presence in the vicinity.
Earlier on Tuesday, Concordia University decided to close its downtown campus to prevent potential disruptions from protests.
“Unless pre-arranged, faculty may opt for remote teaching if viable,” wrote Graham Carr, Concordia University’s president and vice-chancellor, in an email to students.
Carr stated that the campus closure aimed to “safeguard our entire community.”
“While we have witnessed protests on campus in the past two years, we have never had to implement such precautionary measures,” he added.
Similar demonstrations took place on Monday as well.
Tuesday marked the second anniversary of Hamas’s assault in southern Israel, resulting in 1,200 casualties and around 250 individuals being held captive in Gaza, as per Israeli reports. Israel claims there are still 48 hostages in Gaza, with 20 believed to be alive.
A day after the 2023 Hamas attack, Israel formally declared war on Hamas. The ensuing military operations have resulted in over 67,000 fatalities, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
The extensive Israeli military response prompted the International Criminal Court to issue arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister, with accusations of genocide leveled against Israel. These allegations were recently supported by a United Nations Commission of Inquiry.
Israel has vehemently denied the arrest warrants and genocide accusations.
The protests in Montreal on Tuesday saw various areas like Square-Victoria–OACI Metro station filled with people carrying placards condemning genocide and advocating for divestment from Israel.
While many protesters waved Palestinian flags, some set off smoke bombs, and at one point, an Israeli flag was set on fire.
The densely packed crowd, chanting and blowing horns, marched through downtown streets shoulder to shoulder.
