In a move that has ignited fierce debate across Canada, the Palestinian flag was raised this morning at Toronto City Hall. The ceremony proceeded despite substantial grassroots opposition and political resistance, marking a contentious moment in the city's recent history.
Ceremony Proceeds Despite Fierce Opposition
The flag-raising event had been planned since September, following Canada's conditional recognition of Palestinian statehood. However, it faced a powerful backlash, notably from the Canadian Jewish advocacy group Tafsik. More than 25,000 people signed a petition on Change.org calling for the ceremony to be halted, with the count reaching 25,990 signatures by Monday afternoon.
Despite the furor, the event went ahead. Supporters gathered in the plaza below, watching with glee as the black, white, green, and red flag was hoisted and began waving in the wind. The scene was one of celebration for many, with attendees chanting 'free, free Palestine' and holding their own flags. Some even took smiling selfies with the newly raised banner in the background.
Clashes and Controversy at Nathan Phillips Square
The ceremony was not without confrontation. Canadian lawyer and independent journalist Caryma Sa'd documented videos showing police intervening with a protester. The man was playing the Canadian national anthem on a speaker in protest of the flag-raising. Police turned off his speaker, citing a prohibition on amplifying devices. Undeterred, the man and those around him continued to sing the anthem a capella, finishing it in full.
This incident sparked outrage online among those watching the event remotely. One social media user questioned the priorities, writing, 'I’m still waiting to hear how the raising of this flag helps with inflation and the cost of living.' Another comment called the act 'Sacrilegious, traitorous and empathetic suicidal act by woke politicians,' arguing that only the Canadian flag should be flown.
Institutional and Political Resistance
The opposition was not confined to public sentiment. Toronto city council member James Pasternak had been a vocal critic of the plans. In a post on X last week, he argued that the city's flag-raising programme was designed to honour 'official partners of Canada' with which formal diplomatic relations are shared.
Pasternak emphasised that Canada's recognition of a Palestinian state was conditional upon 'reforms, demilitarization, and elections that exclude Hamas, a listed terrorist entity in Canada.' He stated clearly, 'To date, none of those conditions have been met.'
The organised opposition culminated in a legal challenge. Tafsik, describing itself as a grassroots organisation defending Western values and combating antisemitism, filed an injunction to stop the ceremony. However, the injunction was dismissed this morning, allowing the event to proceed. Following the dismissal, the group posted on X, 'The fight continues.'
The petition against the flag-raising has now evolved, calling on city leaders to revise the process for raising non-Canadian flags at City Hall to prevent future community division.
