Toronto: A protest erupted at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) against the screening of a film based on the life of a retired Israeli military general. The Saturday incident involved a brief standoff between police and protesters.
Demonstrators wearing keffiyehs and waving Palestinian flags gathered at King Street and University Avenue. They placed small, rolled-up blankets smeared with fake blood at the base of the TIFF sign, symbolizing dead infants. The protest broke out as ticket holders were entering the nearby Roy Thompson Hall for the premiere of the crime drama “Roofman,” and police blocked the protesters from advancing further.
Many protesters stated they were rallying against “The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue,” a film detailing the mission of retired Israel Defense Forces Major-General Noam Tibon to rescue his family during the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks. The film’s creators, however, said they are not political filmmakers or activists, but storytellers who believe films should spark debate.
The documentary was initially removed from the TIFF lineup due to footage rights and security issues but was later reinstated by organizers under pressure from politicians and Jewish groups.
Najlaa Alzaanin, a Palestinian native who joined the protest, demanded that the Canadian government intervene, stating that her family in Gaza is still trapped and suffering. She accused the Canadian government of failing to fulfill its promises regarding the ongoing crisis in Gaza. Police said approximately 12 protesters were present at the scene and they left on their own.
