Israel raises alerts for travelers to Canada, warning of “threats increase”
Israel raised a travel alert to Canada on Sunday to “potential threat levels” warning of “an increase in threats from terrorists to Israelis and Canadian Jews.”
The warning from the Israel National Security Council was to participate in the annual walk of United Jewish Appeals and Israel on the same day as demonstrators gathered in Toronto, Vancouver and other Canadian cities in Canada.
“Today (Sunday), Canada's anti-Israel organizations plan to hold protests and demonstrations…oppose the rally in support of Israel,” the Israeli notice said.
“Over the past few days, the discourse surrounding these events has become more radical, including calls that can be understood as violently hurting Israelis and Jews in these events.”
The notice recommended that participants follow the instructions and recommendations of police and security officials during Israeli activities, “avoid any friction against anti-Israel protests.”
Toronto police said Sunday they arrested a man after a man caused “riots” during his walk in the city's activities with Israel. They didn't release any more details immediately.
Deputy Commissioner Lauren Pogue said in a statement Friday that police “aware that some people have planned to intervene in the activity in Toronto's plans” and will work with regional police agencies “in and around and around”.
Canadian Jewish organizations have held strolls with Israeli events, which have been around for over 50 years, although sometimes with different names.
A police line was seen before protesters who supported Palestinian during the annual Israeli walk event held in Toronto on May 25, 2025.
Max Trotta/Global News
Pro-Palestinian protesters were seen during the annual hike of the Israeli event in Toronto on May 25, 2025.
Max Trotta/Global News
In Sunday's notice, the Israeli National Security Council further warned Israel to travel to Canada and those already in the country to “take greater precautions to avoid displaying Jewish and Israeli symbols in public and stay alert in public.”
The warning notes that the attacks and threats against Canadian Jewish institutions and centres have increased in the past 18 months since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, and Israeli troops have begun bombing Gaza in response.
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Earlier Sunday, police said a Toronto man was arrested after posting a “death threat to several hate-motivated Israeli communities” on social media between Wednesday and Saturday.
The suspect, identified as 26-year-old Basel al-Sukhon, was arrested on Saturday and charged with threats and “indecent communication.”
The arrest was on the same day as Toronto police asked for help from the public to determine that a suspect was allegedly destroyed on the front lawn of the synagogue in Bayview Avenue and York Mills Road areas on December 2, 2024.
Toronto police said Saturday that the same suspect was believed to have returned to the synagogue and violated its sign on December 20, 2024, and later caused signs of damage at three other synagogues along Beview Avenue on May 18.
“This investigation is considered a crime suspected of hate motives,” police said in a statement.
Demonstrations were held on Sunday, and Israel continued its new military offensive in Gaza after the ceasefire with Hamas ended. The Gaza Ministry of Health, run by Hamas, said that Israel's strikes killed at least 38 people in the past 24 hours.
Israel vowed to ensure the release of all hostages that Hamas still holds in Gaza, which Hamas said would only be in exchange for a lasting ceasefire and a complete evacuation of Israel from the territory.
Israel also blocked all food, medicine and fuel for two and a half months after experts warned some of Israel's top allies, including Canada, and then allowed some aid to enter Gaza.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has issued a joint statement with French and British leaders calling on Israel to allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza or face “specific actions”, including sanctions.
The statement has sparked fierce criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and conservative leader Pierre Poilievre.
“There are no more intense anti-Semitism on Canadian streets,” Poilievre said in a speech to the conservative caucus in Ottawa on Sunday.
Israel said it plans to fully control Gaza and promote voluntary immigration to most of its described population, more than 2 million Palestinians, a plan that has been rejected by Palestinians and the majority of the international community.
– Documents with the Associated Press
& Copy 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
