Anti-Israel protesters hang effigies of Netanyahu, Ben Gvir, Trump at Montreal rally

Protesters at an anti-Israel event in Montreal this week displayed effigies of Israeli and American politicians hanged with a rope, video showed.

Footage shared on social media showed that figures representing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and US President Donald Trump hanging from nooses at a protest that took place Sunday in the center of the Canadian city, organized by the extremist group Montreal4Palestine.

Other videos that were more widely shared on social media seemed to indicate that the figure of a Jew wearing a kippah was hanged. Viewed from the front, it was evident that the figure was a depiction of Ben Gvir.

Scenes of the display were included in a video montage the group posted on social media after the event.

The display also appeared to include the flag of the local hockey team, the Montreal Canadiens. No reason has been given.

Canadian MP Anthony Housefather called the display “disgusting, antisemitic and clear incitement,” while city councilor Leslie Roberts said the incident is “unacceptable.” Both said the police should investigate.

???????? Montreal, Canada, May 2026: The pro-Hamas group “Mtl4Pal” has been displaying effigies of Jews wearing kippas, Israeli politicians, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Donald Trump hanging from nooses at protests. pic.twitter.com/nTYaAXjPOR

— Combat Antisemitism Movement (@CombatASemitism) May 26, 2026

The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, meanwhile, said in a statement that the incident “evokes some of the darkest antisemitic imagery in history and is completely unacceptable.”

“This is not ‘peaceful activism.’ It is the promotion of hatred and the incitement of violence that fuels the radicalization of our social climate,” the organization wrote on X. “What will it take for authorities to treat these acts as the serious threat they are?”

The incident comes amid skyrocketing levels of antisemitism in Canada. Last year, Canadian Jews experienced a record 6,800 antisemitic incidents, B’nai Brith Canada said in a recent report.

Since then, attacks have seemingly increased, including a wave of shootings at synagogues. Less than five months into 2026, the country has seen more violent incidents against Jews than in all of last year, B’nai Brith Canada said earlier this month.

The 400,000-strong Canadian Jewish community has been among the hardest hit by antisemitism since the Hamas terror group launched its war against Israel on October 7, 2023.

The most violent incidents have included a Toronto Jewish girls’ school hit with gunfire in overnight shootings three times, two Jewish institutions in Montreal hit by firebombings, three men attempting to kidnap Jewish women, antisemitic graffiti daubed on three synagogues in Nova Scotia, and a Jewish man in Montreal beaten in front of his children.