Jewish Montrealers march, gather for hostages, 1 year after attack on Israel

Eric Hazan, a Jewish Montrealer, has been devastated since learning that his cousin, Omer Shem Tov, was abducted by Hamas at the Nova music festival.

"The whole family has been a mess, in shambles," Hazan shared.

He recalled waking up one Saturday morning a year ago to find his phone flooded with notifications about events unfolding in Israel. Within hours, his cousin's family tracked Shem Tov's phone to Gaza, but it was already too late.

"He had just finished his service with the Israel Defence Forces," Hazan explained. "He was a loving young man, looking forward to earning some money and traveling."

Hazan is determined to be on the first flight to Israel once his cousin is freed. "The families just want their loved ones back. That’s all we want," he said. "I only wish more people understood the horror of what's happening to the hostages and didn't see them as just casualties of war."

Monday will mark one year since Hamas launched an attack in southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of around 1,200 Israelis and the abduction of approximately 250 people who were taken to Gaza, according to Israeli reports. Nearly 100 of those hostages are still unaccounted for.

The conflict has claimed more than 41,600 Palestinian lives, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, with at least 94,000 injured. More than 680 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank, many by the Israeli army, with others killed by settlers.

In Hampstead, weekly marches have been held every Sunday to keep the plight of the hostages in the public eye. On Sunday, their photos were displayed at the Sylvan Adams YWHA, where people gathered to perform, pray, and give speeches.

“We are here to express a human issue,” said Ruben Hassan of the group Bring Them Home Montreal, who has spoken at many of these events.

Moved to tears when thinking about one-year-old Kfir Bibas and his five-year-old brother Ariel, Hassan struggles to comprehend the lack of global action to demand their release. "We don’t even know if they’re still alive," he said. "How is it possible for such young children to still be held hostage?"

Hassan noted that members of Arab, Muslim, and Iranian communities in Montreal have also joined the weekly events. "They stand with us because they know we are fighting for freedom, for everyone in the world."

He hopes to see even broader support, saying, "We will continue until all the hostages are returned."

Amir Amozig, another participant in the weekly marches, expressed both frustration and hope. While discouraged by the lack of progress in freeing the hostages, he remains inspired by the resilience of Israel and the Jewish community. He believes that actions like the march help to kindle hope.

"Today’s gathering amplifies the urgency for us to express solidarity with the community," Amozig said. "This is a human issue, not a political one."