Montreal Palestinian Youth Movement Holds Large Protest at Dorchester Square, Nov. 12

Thousands of activists gathered to call for a ceasefire in Gaza in Dorchester Square in downtown Montreal on November 12.

"Doctors did press conferences surrounding cadavers, journalists have done press conferences saying that their entire families have been murdered for the price of showing the world the truth," said Palestinian Youth Movement organizer Sarah Shamy.

In a response to a question about a journalist's death in Gaza, the Israeli Defence Forces said they take "all operationally feasible measures to protect civilians and to facilitate freedom of the press. The IDF has never, and will never, deliberately target journalists."

Since October 7, 37 Palestinian, 4 Israeli, and 1 Lebanese journalist have been killed. 9 journalists have been reported as injured. (CUTV cannot verify this information.)

"We are asking for a ceasefire, we want this genocide to end," said Shamy. 

Some Canadian politicians have called for a ceasefire, while many others have not. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called for a "humanitarian pause". This is the same language used by United States of America President Joe Biden, who has also recently called for Israel to use “less intrusive action”.

Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante has said she won't ban pro-Palestine protests, while Quebec Premier François Legault said he wouldn't rule it out. 

Last week, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow called for a ceasefire and for Hamas to release the hostages. French President Emanuel Macron has also called for a ceasefire — currently being the only G7 leader to call for one. Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly is the first leading Canadian government official to embrace the word ceasefire, saying Canada agrees with Macron and needs to “work towards a ceasefire”. 

Protesters marched to Israel's consulate in downtown Montreal. The event was organized by Palestinian Youth Movement and Montreal4Palestine. Organizers told the crowd that more than 11 thousand Palestinians have died in Gaza due to bombings from the Israeli government since October 7.

Participants donned the Palestinian flag, held posters calling for a ceasefire and calling what's happening to Gazans a genocide.