Community Groups in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Call for Accountability After U of T Protest Tied to October 7 Attacks

On October 7, 2026, the anniversary of the Hamas attacks on Israel, a demonstration at the University of Toronto drew criticism from several Jewish community and advocacy organizations. According to their joint statement, protesters cheered as a Hamas commander was quoted, praised “martyrs,” and declared their rally an extension of the massacre. The statement was issued by the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), Network of Engaged Canadian Academics, Hillel Ontario, UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center, and StandWithUs Canada, which the statement says have been engaged with the university and authorities about threats to the safety of Jewish students, faculty, and staff.

The organizations said the university’s administration had decided that student groups could not proceed with the protest because of safety concerns. Despite that decision, the statement says, protesters went ahead with an event that openly declared itself an extension of the October 7 attacks. The statement described those attacks as involving the violent invasion of Israel, the murder of 1,200 Israelis, more than 4,000 people injured, and the kidnapping of 251 people.

The statement says that, addressing the crowd, one speaker quoted Mohammed Deif, whom it describes as one of the architects of the October 7 attack. The speaker reportedly urged supporters to “take to the streets and squares” in solidarity with the attacks and concluded with “glory to the martyrs,” “victory to the resistance,” and “globalize the intifada.” The statement asserts that the United Kingdom and Australia, both allies of Canada, recognize the phrase “globalize the intifada” as incitement against Jews.

The organizations argued that when governments and institutions fail to enforce their own rules and policies, they create a climate of impunity that encourages extremists and endangers everyone’s safety. They said universities have a responsibility to work with police to prevent events that incite violence and to ensure their rules are enforced. Citing Ontario’s revised directive on anti-racism and anti-hate, they said universities must enforce campus-wide standards against hate, including holding student associations and groups accountable. Applying a principle of greater responsibility carrying greater accountability (Luke 12:48), the statement placed that duty on the university.

The statement also addressed complaints from Jewish students. It said complaints filed with the administration must be responded to within thirty days, as outlined in the revised directive, and that those who break the rules must be held accountable. The organizations said the matter concerns more than one community, describing it as a question of “the security of all communities and defending Canada’s democratic values.”

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