Israel has upgraded its travel alert for Canada to a “potential threat level,” citing an increased danger posed by “terrorists” targeting Israelis and Jews in the country.
The National Security Council of Israel upgraded the travel alert on May 25 from Level 1, indicating that there was no warning, to Level 2, suggesting a higher level of risk.
The alert was issued on the same day that demonstrators congregated in cities like Toronto and Vancouver to protest the annual Walk With Israel event organized by the United Jewish Appeal.
“Anti-Israel organizations in Canada are planning to hold protests and demonstrations … in opposition to rallies in support of Israel,” the May 25 notice reads. “In the past few days, the discourse surrounding these events has become more radical, including what could be understood as calls to violently harm Israelis and Jews at these events.”
The notice also urged Walk With Israel participants to adhere to the guidance and recommendations of police and security personnel to prevent conflict with the anti-Israel demonstrators.
Toronto Police Deputy Chief Lauren Pogue said in a May 23 Facebook video that its officers were “aware of plans by some individuals to interfere” with the 3.9-kilometre walk and would maintain “a strong presence in and around” the demonstration, alongside officers from the Ontario Provincial Police and neighbouring police services from York, Peel, and Durham.
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“The right to protest ends where criminal behaviour begins, which includes intimidation, harassment, or hateful behaviour,” Toronto Police said in a subsequent post.
The walk began at Temple Sinai Congregation of Toronto synagogue and proceeded northward along Bathurst Street, culminating in a festival at UJA’s Sherman Campus. The route featured a strong police presence, with officers patrolling both on bicycles and on foot.
A man was arrested just after 12 p.m. after anti-Semitic slurs were shouted at people attending the walk, Toronto police said in a press release.
Toronto resident Tarek Ibrahem, 57, has been charged with mischief interfering with property and causing a disturbance in connection with the incident. The investigation is being treated as a “suspected hate-motivated offence,” police said.
Another Toronto man was arrested a day earlier in connection with “several hate-motivated death threats against the Israeli community” being posted to social media between May 21 and May 24, police said in a separate press release.
Basel Al-Sukhon, 26, has been charged with uttering threats and indecent communications.
Approximately 56,000 people attended this year’s Toronto event. Canadian Jewish organizations have been hosting the Walk With Israel event for more than 50 years.
While threats associated with the walk were mentioned in the Israel National Security Council advisory, the organization also cited past incidents of violence in Canada as a reason for all Israelis travelling to Canada to exercise caution.
It recommended that all Israelis in Canada exercise increased precautionary measures, refrain from publicly displaying Jewish and Israeli symbols, and maintain a heightened level of vigilance while in public.
“This is in light of an increased threat by terrorists against Israelis and Jews in Canada,” the notice said. “In the past 18 months, there have been several attacks against Jewish institutions and centers, including shooting incidents, Molotov cocktails and threats against Israelis/Jews in the country.”
Increased Anti-Semitic Incidents
Anti-Semitic incidents have been on the rise in Canada since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and Israel began an offensive against the terrorist group in Gaza. Statistics Canada figures show the Jewish community was the primary target of police-reported hate crimes in 2023, despite comprising less than one percent of Canada’s population.
The March 2025 StatCan report said anti-Semitic incidents rose 71 percent between 2022 and 2023, with many of the incidents being recorded after the Oct. 7 attack. There were 900 such crimes reported in 2023 compared to 527 in 2022.
Several shootings targeting Jewish schools, synagogues, and community centres have been recorded in cities like Toronto and Montreal. Jewish businesses have also been a target of vandals and anti-Israel protests have regularly been held in some of Canada’s major cities since the fall of 2023.
The warning also comes days after two Israeli Embassy staffers in Washington were killed by a man shouting “free, free Palestine.”
