Hol
Well-known
August 17 — Amid persistent rain in Montreal, counter-protesters gathered outside Notre-Dame Basilica for the second consecutive week to oppose weekly street prayers organized by Montreal4Palestine, a group with a pro-Hamas stance.
These prayers, held in public spaces, have sparked controversy since October 7, 2023, following a surge in anti-Israel demonstrations and antisemitic incidents. Last week, flyers published by the group referenced Yahya Sinwar, the former Hamas leader behind the 2023 massacre in Israel.
Protesters emphasized defending Quebec’s secular values and identity. One supporter stated, “It's been a rough 21 or so months since October 2023 and since we've had a lot of pro-Palestinian protests in the street that have been extremely hateful, somewhat violent... It's important to stand up for what's right, to be on the right side of history.”
These prayers, held in public spaces, have sparked controversy since October 7, 2023, following a surge in anti-Israel demonstrations and antisemitic incidents. Last week, flyers published by the group referenced Yahya Sinwar, the former Hamas leader behind the 2023 massacre in Israel.
Protesters emphasized defending Quebec’s secular values and identity. One supporter stated, “It's been a rough 21 or so months since October 2023 and since we've had a lot of pro-Palestinian protests in the street that have been extremely hateful, somewhat violent... It's important to stand up for what's right, to be on the right side of history.”