October 7: Two Years Later — Canada’s Reckoning With Terror, Division, and Truth

Two years ago, the world watched hell on earth unfold. On October 7, 2023, Hamas militants stormed Israel’s southern border — murdering over 1,200 civilians, abducting 251 hostages, and unleashing a wave of barbarity not seen since the Holocaust. It was not a “conflict.” It was a massacre.

Now, in October 2025, as Canadians bow their heads in remembrance, the echoes of that day still haunt our cities, our politics, and our conscience.

The Attack That Changed Everything

At dawn, gunmen flooded Israeli kibbutzim and music festivals, slaughtering families in their homes and young people dancing beneath desert skies. Survivors described “hell on earth.” Two years later, 48 hostages remain in Gaza, with only a handful believed alive.

Among the dead were seven Canadians — peace activist Vivian Silver, Montrealers Alexandre Look and Netta Epstein, and others whose names should be carved in stone. Their stories tie this horror to our soil.

Prime Minister Mark Carney, speaking on the anniversary, declared:

“Canada stands with the victims, their families, and every Jewish community still carrying the weight of this unimaginable loss.”

But while leaders offered words of solidarity, the streets told a different story.

The Division at Home

Across Canadian cities, vigils burned bright — and protests burned hotter. In Toronto, security at synagogues resembled a war zone, with SWAT teams, drones, and barricades shielding worshippers from rising threats.

In Montreal, pro-Palestinian rallies drew thousands. Some peaceful, others openly violent — Israeli flags torched, fireworks launched, and chants that blurred the line between “justice” and hatred.

“The war has been transplanted into Canada,” said former diplomat Norman Spector. And it’s true. What began in Gaza has metastasized into our own cultural war — on campuses, online, and even in Parliament.

Canada’s Political Crossroads

Carney’s government walks a tightrope. On one hand, it condemns Hamas as a “terrorist organization that must never rule.” On the other, it faces backlash for recognizing Palestine last month — a move critics called “a reward for terror.”

On the same day of remembrance, Carney met President Donald Trump in Washington, reaffirming support for a U.S.-led peace initiative — even as trade tensions simmer over Trump’s 25% tariff on Canadian goods. The symbolism wasn’t lost: remembrance and realpolitik sharing the same stage.

The Battle for the Narrative

The online discourse mirrors the chaos. On X (formerly Twitter), voices like @DahliaKurtz mourned under armored police protection, while others praised “resistance” in Gaza. The algorithm rewards outrage; nuance doesn’t trend.

But truth still matters. Hamas’s actions on October 7 were not “freedom fighting.” They were terrorism — and acknowledging that does not erase Palestinian suffering. Both peoples deserve peace. Neither deserves propaganda.

The Soul of a Nation

For Canadians, this anniversary cuts deep. We pride ourselves on tolerance, yet Jewish families now send children to school with fear. Synagogues are fortresses. And in downtown protests, antisemitic slogans echo unchecked.

Two years later, we face a sobering question: Can a country built on peace survive when truth itself becomes partisan?

Canada’s answer will define the next generation.

As Carney said, “Jewish people everywhere, including here, live with profound grief and anxiety.”

That grief is shared — but only if we have the courage to remember why October 7 happened, and what happens when the world looks away.