From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Israeli comedian said held for 6 hours at Toronto airport after Hind Rajab complaint
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Israeli comedian Guy Hochman says he was held for six hours of questioning upon arriving in Canada.
The comic’s detention came after a complaint was filed by the anti-Israel legal group the Hind Rajab Foundation, according to Hebrew-language media reports.
Associates of Hochman tell Channel 12 news the comedian was detained upon arrival at Toronto airport and was only released after intervention by the Israeli Consulate.
There is no reported comment from Canadian authorities.
Hochman later performed a gig for the local Jewish community, where anti-Israel, pro-Palestinian protesters rallied outside.
One of the activists tried to attack him, injuring his manager in the protest, Hochman writes on social media.
“The attacker was arrested by the local police,” he adds.
הם ניסו ממני להיכנס לקנדה, אבל אחרי 6 שעות עיכוב, נכנסתי.
הם ניסו למנוע ממני להופיע מול הקהילה הישראלית, הופעתי.
ובזמן שהם המשיכו לצעוק לעצמם פרי פלסטיין במינוס 10 מעלות, אנחנו התחממנו מצחוק 400 ישראלים בפנים. ככה מרגיש ניצחון ???????? pic.twitter.com/QeN9QbsV86— גיא הוכמן (@HochmanGuy) January 20, 2026
The Hind Rajab Foundation said last week they filed a criminal complaint against Hochman over “military propaganda and incitement linked to Israel’s war on Gaza,” due to videos he made with Israeli soldiers.
Hochman sparked outrage last year when he posted a video in which he gave a mocking tour of a damaged Gaza hotel while in the Strip under the aegis of the Israel Defense Forces. The video was later taken down.
The Times of Israel Community.