Pro-Israel event at Toronto university ‘stormed’ by activists
Videos show Jewish students barricading themselves, bleeding from broken glass, as anti-Israel activists disrupt event hosting IDF veterans; police say several arrests made
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A pro-Israel student group in Toronto, Canada, said Wednesday that its event with IDF veterans was “stormed” by anti-Israel protesters, causing injuries.
Students Supporting Israel at Toronto Metropolitan University posted videos on social media showing the altercation between the pro-Israel students and masked protesters at the off-campus event at which former IDF soldiers were due to speak.
An anti-Israel activist chanted, “We refuse to allow war criminals in our city,” while the pro-Israel students shouted, “Get out,” and “Call 911.”
Other videos showed the pro-Israel students barricading themselves behind a glass door with furniture as the masked protesters gathered on the other side.
The two groups shouted at each other through the glass door before the glass was smashed. It was unclear from the videos which side broke the glass.
The pro-Israel group shared a video of blood seeping out of a sliced forearm, as a woman cried in the background.
Toronto Metropolitan students were attacked today in Toronto, while holding a peaceful event featuring Israeli soldiers, hosted by TMU SSI as part of the national “Combat on Campus” tour.
Minutes before the event began, a masked mob forced their way into a private venue,… pic.twitter.com/Ts2tZ1rS38
— StandWithUs Canada (@StandWithUsCA) November 5, 2025
“Broken glass. Blood everywhere. All because we’re Jewish — and tried to open dialogue,” the group said in a statement.
Police said Thursday that they arrested five suspects who stormed the event.
Protesters allegedly forced entry into a building holding a private event, damaged property, caused injuries from broken glass, caused attendants to fear for their safety, and assaulted a police officer, Toronto police said in a statement.
The five people who were arrested range in age from 21 to 29, and were hit with charges including assaulting an officer, obstruction, forcible entry, and unlawful assembly.
The university’s chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine appeared to take credit for the altercation in a post on Instagram: “Our universities refuse to hold war criminals accountable. We will hold them accountable.”
BREAKING: Jewish students at Toronto Metropolitan University were barricaded inside as Islamists break in and attack them.
This has nothing to do with Israel. It’s pure violence — and I’m done with the cowards who keep trying to excuse it.
https://t.co/KwkMZnQJUG— Eyal Yakoby (@EYakoby) November 5, 2025
Hillel Ontario said in a statement that it was aware of the reports of an “anti-Jewish mob violently disrupting an event sponsored by Students Supporting Israel.”
“This follows Students for Justice in Palestine Toronto Metropolitan University sharing a call to interfere with the event and encouraging others to do so,” it noted.
“There should be no space for violence or intimidation on our campus or in our city. We call on the TMU administration to take urgent and immediate steps to ensure those who perpetrated today’s incident are held to account.”
Anti-Israel and antisemitic incidents in Canada have risen greatly in the two years since the war in Gaza began with the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led terror onslaught on southern Israel.
Earlier this year, Israel crowned Canada the “champion of antisemitism” and published a report blaming world leaders, universities, media outlets, and social networks for allowing or encouraging skyrocketing anti-Jewish sentiments.
The Times of Israel Community.