OTTAWA – As Hamas terrorists drag their feet, Israeli-Canadians are cautiously hopeful about the newly-announced ceasefire deal.
Expected to be ratified this week, the deal would see a pause in over a year of fighting, and Israeli hostages returned home after an unspeakable ordeal.
Toronto’s Maureen Lesham told the Toronto Sun she’s cautiously optimistic the deal will bring home her cousin Romi Gonen, captured by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7, 2023, while attending the Supernova music festival.
“I’m finding myself between cautious hopefulness, but also gnawing unease,” she said. “We’re negotiating with terrorist organization, and that’s really difficult.”
Scores of Palestinian terrorists stormed Gaza-adjacent communities on Oct. 7, 2023, conducting a campaign of kidnappings, murder and sexual assault against Israeli men, women and children, killing 1,200 people.
“We can’t forget who we’re dealing with – it’s a terror group that has consistently shown zero regard for human life,” Lesham said.
“They are driven by spreading fear and by spreading chaos. So we can never, never lose sight of that reality, no matter how hopeful we are.”
Israelis, likewise, are cautiously optimistic.
“Everybody feels the same way, it’s really, really important to bring the hostages home, but – and there’s a big but – at what cost?” said Larry Zeifman, a Toronto businessman who lives in both Canada and Israel.
“It is so important that Israel win this war, then Hamas is no longer able to do what they did on October 7.”
While Israelis welcome the prospect of peace, few are relying on Hamas keeping their word.
“I have no trust in them. I live by the principle that if people are ready to kill you, they’re ready to lie to you too,” Zeifman said.
Lesham said the silence from organizations – including the government – in the wake of Oct. 7 is deafening.
“Seeing images of the sexual atrocities done to girls in Israel, there hasn’t even been a moment for us to process what we’ve seen,” she said.
“Then add the world’s reaction, the silence of women’s organizations, the silence of human rights organizations, add the despicable, despicable response of our Prime Minister … we have a Canadian hostage, Judih Weinstein, whose body is being held in Gaza. What have Canadians done? How have they protested to get her body back?”
The Oct. 7 attacks touched off an explosion of rampant antisemitism in Canada, with anti-Israel activists leading scores of marches, demonstrations and intimidation rallies through downtown, universities and even Jewish neighbourhoods.
“For over 15 months, Hamas supporters in this country have been calling for a ceasefire – and now there’s a chance that one will be secured,” said Casey Babb, Macdonald Laurier Institute senior fellow and adviser to Secure Canada.
“Without question, these people – in all their delusion, the same ones who claim there’s been a genocide – will now turn around and say this is a victory.”
Babb fears the ceasefire will embolden some anti-Israel activists, prompting even more aggressive and hostile behaviour.
“They’ve been at it since October 8th,” Babb said. “Why stop now?
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