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Hezbollah Official Admits to Funding Protests in Canada
A senior official from Hezbollah has claimed that protests in Canada and other Western nations are not entirely grassroots movements. According to the official, the organization has deliberately invested in these demonstrations, focusing on college students, to shape public opinion. The goal is to align these movements with their ideological objectives and push key political narratives.
This revelation raises questions about the authenticity of grassroots activism in Canada and highlights the possibility of foreign involvement in internal matters. By targeting young and impressionable students, Hezbollah aims to spread its message within academic institutions and activist networks, potentially influencing future political discussions across Western societies.
Following the Hamas-led massacre on October 7, 2023, Canada has seen a sharp rise in violent antisemitic incidents. This alarming trend coincides with increased activity by a network of NGOs linked to Hezbollah. These groups engage in campaigns that promote anti-Israel sentiments, spread antisemitism, and foster intimidation, creating a hostile environment throughout the country.
Several prominent organizations within this network have ties to Palestinian terrorist groups and obscure their funding sources connected to Hezbollah. Research by NGO Monitor has mapped out an extensive web of Canadian anti-Israel organizations, partnerships, and funding streams. These groups, like Samidoun, collaborate to promote agendas that isolate Israel and target its supporters, both directly and indirectly.
This network is involved in organizing violent events, setting up student encampments, issuing statements, and pursuing legal actions. Disturbingly, many of these organizations have openly praised the October 7 attacks and expressed support for Hamas, Hezbollah, and other groups designated as terrorist organizations in Canada.
In a separate incident, CTV News reported that Montreal police have yet to make new arrests two months after a violent anti-NATO protest in November. The protest gained national attention after participants vandalized a convention centre hosting a NATO meeting, breaking windows and setting a car on fire.
The incident sparked widespread outrage, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemning the violence and calling for accountability. Quebec Premier François Legault also urged law enforcement to act, stressing the need for clear consequences for those responsible.
At the time, Montreal police Chief Fady Dagher was confident that additional arrests would follow, noting that the group involved was already known to authorities. However, he also mentioned that most participants wore masks, complicating their efforts to identify them.
Two months later, no further arrests have been made, and police say the investigation is ongoing. Grainy images of six suspects were released in December, but authorities acknowledged the poor quality of the photos while seeking public assistance.
Three individuals were arrested during the protest. Charges included obstruction of police work and assaulting an officer. The event was organized by Divest for Palestine and an anti-capitalist group, CLAC-Montréal, which opposes NATO partly due to its support for Israel.
Benoît Allard, a spokesperson for Divest for Palestine, claimed he was among many injured by police during the protest. He criticized the focus on property damage while alleging that protesters suffered physical harm. Allard accused police of using arrests to intimidate activists, pointing out that charges against him from a prior protest were mostly dropped. He defended the broader movement, stating solidarity with all participants.
An anonymous group called “Black Bloc” took responsibility for the violence, framing it as part of their anti-capitalist fight. They asserted that resistance against state and police violence was justified. CLAC-Montréal also issued a statement supporting diverse tactics during demonstrations but denied organizing the destruction, instead praising the commitment of those who took legal risks to challenge the status quo.
Despite the November violence and subsequent scrutiny, Divest for Palestine plans to continue its efforts, including a protest training camp scheduled for February. Allard argued that the recent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas would only be temporary unless the underlying issues in Palestine were resolved.
