‍

Today, in the aftermath of one of the darkest days in Israel’s history caused by the barbaric slaughter of hundreds of Israelis, Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) expresses unwavering support for the people of Israel as they bravely defend their country against enemies hell-bent on destroying the world’s only Jewish state. Amid continuing news updates from Israel showing a previously unthinkable scale of tragedy from yesterday’s multi-front assault by Hamas terrorists, the FSWC team is horrified and profoundly saddened.

As Israel continues to absorb the unfathomable human cost, we extend our condolences and deepest sympathies to the families of those killed in this abhorrent, unprovoked attack on civilians. We express our wishes for a full and speedy recovery to those wounded and pray for the safe return of all those kidnapped and taken to Gaza as hostages by the Hamas invaders. Our thoughts and prayers are with all Israelis who are facing continuing terror, uncertainty and grief.

We condemn, in the harshest terms, the actions of Palestinian terror groups in firing thousands of rockets indiscriminately at civilian targets in Israel and massacring residents in numerous villages and towns, actions that constitute heinous war crimes that shouldn’t go unpunished.

We feel it’s important to put the situation into perspective for our fellow Canadians to give them a better sense of what Israel just experienced and the gravity of the situation. The equivalent in Canada would be terrorist attacks on multiple communities in a matter of hours killing more than 2,400 Canadians and at least 400 men, women and children of all ages violently kidnapped and taken to hostile territory to be held as hostages by a jihadist regime committed to Canada’s destruction.  

We appreciate the strong support for Israel expressed by many Canadian leaders, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Leader of the Opposition Pierre Poilievre and Ontario Premier Doug Ford, along with numerous others at all levels of government and many community organizations. We call on all Canadians to stand in solidarity with Israel, to unequivocally condemn the appalling attacks against Israelis and to speak out against the actions of the Palestinian terrorists and those who support them, including their backers in Iran.

FSWC thanks senior police officials in Toronto, York and Peel regions after they informed us that they have devoted additional resources to ensure the safety and security of Jewish residents and Jewish community institutions given the antisemitic attacks that took place two years ago in Toronto and across Canada during the last major conflict between Israel and Palestinian terror groups in Gaza.

Toronto police have also been made aware of disturbing pro-Hamas rallies and celebrations taking place in the city, including a "banner drop" to "celebrate the resistance and its next level of accomplishments" that took place yesterday at the Roncesvalles Pedestrian Bridge and an "All Out for Palestine" rally planned for tomorrow at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto and other major cities across the country. We have been in touch with leaders at all levels of government about these abhorrent events that seek to glorify the murder and abduction of innocent civilians. We have appealed to senior public officials to denounce these gatherings and send a strong message that they have no place in Canada.

Tomorrow evening at 7 PM, FSWC will join the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto and other Jewish community organizations along with many other Jewish and non-Jewish residents of Toronto at Mel Lastman Square to stand united in solidarity with the people of Israel.

Given what Israel has just suffered and the danger it continues to face, we encourage all members of the community and allies to attend this rally. We hope to see you there.

‍