Photo by social network X / Professor Preobrazhensky
On Friday, Montreal, Canada’s second largest city, was gripped by riots during anti-Israel and anti-NATO protests that escalated into acts of violence. Demonstrators smashed shop windows, set fire to cars and destroyed symbols, including an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, i24News reports.
The protests began as normal demonstrations, but quickly descended into chaos. Participants dressed in Palestinian symbols shouted radical slogans, including calls for a “two-state solution” – a dangerous echo of Holocaust-era rhetoric. Some protesters performed Nazi salutes, which caused shock and condemnation on social media.
Russian flags against the backdrop of anti-Western sentiment
Russian flags were seen among the crowd, underscoring the anti-NATO sentiments of many protesters. According to witnesses, several demonstrators openly expressed support for Russia in its confrontation with the West.
Reaction of the authorities and society
The Montreal police quickly intervened, using special means to disperse the crowd, but this did not stop the riots. Several police officers were injured in the clashes, and dozens of cars and shops were damaged.
Leaders of Jewish and pro-Israeli organisations in Canada have already condemned the events, calling them “a disturbing signal to Canadian society”. “This is not just an anti-Israel protest, it is an expression of hatred that threatens the democratic values of our country,” said a representative of the Centre to Combat Anti-Semitism of Canada.
Demands on the government
Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called for an immediate investigation into the events. “Violence and hatred have no place in our society,” Trudeau said.
The protests, which began as a political demonstration, have exacerbated social divisions and raised concerns about the rise of radicalism amid global crises.
