Pro-Palestinian protesters return to downtown Montreal, demand end to killing of civilians in Gaza

Pro-Palestinian rally in Montreal draws thousands More than 5,000 people took part in the largest pro-Palestinian rally in Montreal since the beginning of the war

A rainfall warning didn't stop thousands protesters from gathering in downtown Montreal Sunday to voice their support for Palestinians amid the Israel-Hamas war.

Under the looming threat of a ground invasion, the war entered its 16th day as Israeli warplanes struck targets across Gaza and a mosque in the occupied West Bank allegedly used by militants.

The Montreal protest was organized by the Palestinian Youth Movement, Montreal4Palestine and student groups in universities across the city.

Around 2 p.m., the crowd filled Dorchester Square in Montreal as they waved Palestinian flags under the eyes of police officers who were monitoring the event.

The groups called for an end to the bombing of Palestinian civilians and "an end to Canada’s complicity in Israel’s horrific war crimes," according to a news release.

Dima Beyrouti, a Lebanese-Canadian, was among the thousands of Montrealers who participated in the protest.

"It's one of the very few ways for us who are not able to be in Gaza to support the Palestinians and tell them that everyone here is thinking about you and everyone here is trying to deliver the message of the terrorism that's happening there against the Palestinians in Gaza," she told CTV News, holding a Palestinian flag.

She said as the war rages on into its second week, she is also worried about her parents, brother and other family members back home. Canada has urged all Canadians to leave Lebanon while they still can and is preparing for possible evacuations as tensions spread to neighbouring countries. The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah — also an organization Canada has designated as terrorist — has been trading fire with Israel since the war began.

"I'm worried about them," Beyrouti said.

"I'm worried about their safety and security — not only of my family but everyone there because, at the end of the day, we are all one family. One big family. We're worried, we're scared. We want our country back and we want peace for the children that are dying everyday."

THOUSANDS OF CIVILIANS KILLED

More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, most of whom were civilians slain during the initial attack on Oct. 7 by Hamas, which Canada has designated as a terrorist organization since 2002. At least 212 people were captured and dragged back to Gaza. Two Americans were released on Friday.

More than 4,600 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry. That includes the disputed toll from a hospital explosion.

On Sunday, Israel welcomed Canada's conclusion that Israel didn't strike the hospital in Gaza on Oct.17.

Nanee Tcheurekjian also braved the rain in Montreal to show her support for the Palestinian people.

"They have no rights and right now it's obviously escalated and thousands and thousands of people are dying every day and the world doesn't seem to be doing much about it," she said, adding that, as an Armenian, she is familiar with the notion of genocide.

"Obviously, it's in my DNA and I've grown up learning about it. Whether it's the Armenians or the Palestinians or whoever in the world that's going through a genocide — which is clearly what's happening right now— it's not right," she said.

The protest continued into the afternoon hours as the crowd marched to the Israeli consulate in Westmount to deliver their message to the

With files from CTV Montreal's Angela Mackenzie and The Associated Press