Acts of violence targeted at a Jewish school in Montreal, Canada, occurred twice within a single week, as reported by a major Canadian broadcaster. The incidents happened on November 9 and November 12, and no injuries were recorded. Police found bullet holes at the site. The first gunshots were heard at night, and the second attack occurred in the early morning hours. An official investigation into the armed assaults was opened.
Across the city, statistics show rising tensions connected to the broader conflict in the region. Since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas, reports indicate that 73 crimes have been documented against the Jewish community and 25 against the Arab community in the Montreal area. Local authorities have emphasized the need for vigilance and hate-crime reporting to understand the scope of the situation.
In a wider international context, concerns about antisemitism and Islamophobia have been voiced by global leaders. The Middle East crisis intensified after Hamas militants entered Israel from the Gaza Strip on October 7 and announced the launch of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. In response, Israeli authorities declared that the country was at war.
Israel’s stated objective in its campaign, framed as Operation Iron Swords, has been to neutralize the threat, secure the release of hostages, and degrade Hamas’s capabilities. In pursuit of these goals, Israel began extensive rocket attacks on Gaza from the first day of the operation. The Israeli National Security Council also decided to halt the flow of essential goods, water, electricity, and fuel into Gaza. Humanitarian aid shipments began to move through the Rafah border crossing only after October 20, and organizers acknowledged that the aid volume remained insufficient to meet demand.
On October 27, Israel announced an expansion of ground operations in Gaza. While the exact start date of the ground campaign remains unclear, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians reportedly fled their homes, seeking shelter in southern areas. By November 5, the ground offensive saw Israeli forces surrounding Gaza City and severing supply lines as fighting continued in central Gaza.
Analysts note that the Palestinian-Israeli conflict remains deeply complex, with political scientists citing a range of contributing factors, including regional dynamics, security concerns, and historical grievances. The situation continues to evolve, drawing attention from international communities seeking ways to support civilians and advocate for de-escalation while recognizing the safety needs of all populations affected by the fighting.