Anti-Israel protesters took to the streets of Montreal on Friday evening, setting fire to cars, smashing store windows and setting fire to an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the middle of the street.
The riots started around 4:30 p.m. in the center of Émilie-Gamelin Parc as darkness fell in the Canadian city.
But the protests quickly turned violent as demonstrators threw small explosives and pieces of metal at police officers.
Others began committing deliberate vandalism, smashing storefronts with hammers and wooden planks, while also setting cars on fire.
At one point, protesters marched through the city, many carrying Palestinian flags and banners, while dropping red smoke bombs into the crowd to create a sense of anarchy and chaos.
Tensions came to a head when protesters burned an effigy of Netanyahu in the middle of the street.
Montreal police responded by deploying chemical irritants and crowd-control tactics to regain order.
Riot police were seen confronting protesters on St-Laurent Boulevard.
Anti-Israel protesters burned an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the middle of the street
At one point, demonstrators managed to fire red smoke bombs into the crowd.
Protesters marched through the city, many carrying Palestinian flags and banners
Only three arrests were made for assaulting police officers and ‘obstruction of police work’.
Riot police were forced to spray tear gas into the crowd to get protesters to pay out money.
The Montreal Gazette described police as using “chemical irritants and crowd dispersal maneuvers” to regain control.
Images of the unrest were posted on social media as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau enjoyed a Taylor Swift concert in Toronto.
The shocking images left at least one Canadian senator seething at the Canadian prime minister’s indifference.
“Tonight, while Justin Trudeau was out celebrating in Toronto, I met with several members of Montreal’s Jewish community,” wrote Senator Leo Housakos of Quebec.
“Meanwhile, this is our hometown tonight. The pro-Hamas crowd is emboldened by Mr. Trudeau’s promise to arrest the Israeli prime minister. I hope you had fun at the concert, Justin.”
“A crazy night sweeps over the city of Montreal, Canada, one huge chaos as anti-Israel protesters collapse in the streets,” one user wrote online.
‘People thought they would find their cars in the morning, but tonight the parked cars were set on fire. To help Gaza. Our country is being destroyed because of a conflict in which Canada is in no way involved.”
Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau enjoyed a Taylor Swift concert in Toronto
Anti-Israel protesters see an effigy of Benjamin Netanyahu set on fire in Montreal
The crowd quickly got out of control and began smashing store windows
Many in the crowd wore face masks to identify their voices. Smoke bombs added to the chaos
Parked cars were broken into and set on fire in downtown Montreal
Riot police used tear gas on Friday evening in an attempt to liberate the crowd
The protest coincided with a NATO summit in Montreal, where delegates from member states and partner countries had gathered to discuss issues such as Ukraine, climate change and NATO’s strategic future.
It also came on the heels of heightened tensions in the city after a wave of pro-Palestinian demonstrations, including a significant protest at Concordia University on Thursday, involving clashes between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli demonstrators.
On Thursday, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu, his former defense chief Yoav Gallant, and for a Hamas leader, Ibrahim Al-Masri, for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza conflict.
All EU countries are members of the court, which means they are expected to execute the arrest warrants.
Smoke filled the air as protesters fired smoke bombs as they rioted
In addition to being anti-Israel, the protest was also anti-NATO in nature
One woman was seen wearing our ‘Heil Hitler’ salute, which the police appeared to ignore
At least one Canadian senator seethed with anger as he watched the chaos unfold
The woman was captured on camera as an X-user explained how despite reporting the incident to the police, nothing was ever done
Similarly, Trudeau said Canada would comply with the arrest warrant in the unlikely event that Netanyahu visits the country.
‘It is very important that everyone adheres to international law. This is something we have been calling for from the beginning of the conflict. We stand up for international law and we will comply with all regulations and rulings of the international courts. This is exactly who we are as Canadians,” Trudeau said in a statement.
Netanyahu’s office criticized the arrest warrants, labeling them an anti-Semitic move, while Israeli Ambassador to Canada Iddo Moed urged the Canadian government to reject and condemn the ICC decision, considering it an undermining of Israel’s right to self-defense. .