Pro-Palestinian protesters, Jewish counterprotesters gather outside Toronto premiere of Oct. 7 rescue film

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators gather outside the Toronto International Film Festival in Canada to protest the screening of a documentary about a retired Israeli general who rescued his family from Hamas’s October 7, 2023, massacre, September 10, 2025. (Robert Rotenberg)
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators gather outside the Toronto International Film Festival in Canada to protest the screening of a documentary about a retired Israeli general who rescued his family from Hamas’s October 7, 2023, massacre, September 10, 2025. (Robert Rotenberg)

Some pro-Palestinian protesters gathered earlier outside the Toronto International Film Festival in Canada ahead of the premiere of a documentary about a retired Israeli general who rescued his family from Hamas’s October 7, 2023, massacre.

“The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue,” which charts how Noam Tibon saved his family and others during the attack, is currently being screened at North America’s biggest movie festival.

The Canadian-produced film makes use of actual Hamas bodycam footage of the attack that resulted in the deaths of some 1,200 people in Israel, mostly civilians, and in 251 people taken hostage to Gaza.

Around 20 protesters showed up ahead of the screening of Barry Avrich’s film at the Roy Thompson Hall Theatre, chanting “All the Zionists are racists.”

A number of Jewish supporters of Israel were also at the scene.

An estimated 50 Toronto police officers were in attendance, and as arguments escalated between the two groups, the cops separated them to opposite sides of the street. Protests continued ahead of the sold-out screening.

The film was initially cut from the schedule, with organizers citing a lack of “legal clearance” for this footage taken by the Hamas attackers, before it was restored amid outrage over alleged censorship.

Most Popular
If you’d like to comment, join
The Times of Israel Community.
Join The Times of Israel Community
Commenting is available for paying members of The Times of Israel Community only. Please join our Community to comment and enjoy other Community benefits.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Confirm Mail
Thank you! Now check your email
You are now a member of The Times of Israel Community! We sent you an email with a login link to . Once you're set up, you can start enjoying Community benefits and commenting.