The holiday bustle at the Eaton Centre, families seeking Boxing Day bargains and enjoying the festive lights, was shattered. A surge of voices, amplified by megaphones wielded indoors, cut through the cheerful atmosphere. It wasn’t a spontaneous outburst; it was a calculated disruption, a takeover by those determined to impose their agenda on public space.
The chants began – “Free, free Palestine!” – echoing through the mall’s corridors. But the message extended far beyond a call for peace. It was a demand for something far more radical, a sentiment that has been steadily growing in intensity since October 7th. This wasn’t simply about supporting Palestinians; it was a demonstration of support for a terrorist organization, thousands of miles away, finding a foothold within Canadian streets.
A young woman, her voice amplified by a megaphone, attempted to ignite the crowd, urging them to join in a chilling refrain: “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.” This isn’t a plea for liberation; it’s a call for the complete dismantling of Israel, the erasure of a nation between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. It’s a statement of intent, cloaked in political rhetoric.
The protesters didn’t just denounce perceived injustices; they actively called for violence. “Intifada right now!” the woman screamed, the demand echoing through the mall. The word itself carries a dark history – a history of armed uprisings marked by suicide bombings, brutal attacks on civilians, and the deliberate targeting of innocent lives in cafes and on public transportation. This wasn’t a peaceful protest; it was a call to arms.
The chilling reality is that this rhetoric isn’t confined to distant lands. Just weeks ago, a beach festival celebrating the first day of Chanukah was targeted by two men who pledged allegiance to ISIS. Fifteen people were murdered, including a ten-year-old girl and an eighty-seven-year-old Holocaust survivor. To dismiss the events at the Eaton Centre as unrelated is to ignore a terrifying pattern.
This is what the “globalizing of the intifada” looks like – a spreading wave of extremism that finds expression in acts of terror and intimidation. It manifests in the vandalism of Jewish homes, the ripping of mezuzahs from doorways, a blatant message: Jews are not welcome here. Toronto’s Jewish community, including seniors with no connection to Israeli politics, are being held collectively responsible.
Since the Hamas attacks on Israel, Toronto’s Jewish community has endured a relentless barrage of intimidation, school shootings, and attacks on businesses. While some police responses have been commendable, a disturbing trend persists – the unchecked lawlessness accompanying protests and the ongoing targeting of Jewish neighborhoods. A sense of vulnerability is growing, a fear that is eroding the foundations of community.
Now, organizers are threatening to disrupt New Year’s Eve celebrations, planning a rally that will spill into the streets. This isn’t about political expression; it’s about making Toronto “unlivable” until their demands are met. The question isn’t if something must be done, but when will authorities act decisively to protect its citizens?
The line is approaching. If police and political leaders fail to address this escalating situation, the public may be forced to take matters into their own hands. It’s a dangerous path, one no society should desire, but inaction carries an even greater risk. The time for complacency is over.
