Full Breakdown
Antisemitic Hate Speech at a Toronto Protest Sparks Police Hate-Crime Investigation
8/26/2026, 10:47:35 AM
Core Incident
Toronto police’s Hate Crime Unit opened an investigation after a university instructor delivered a speech containing classic antisemitic “blood-libel” accusations in the Bathurst Street-Sheppard Avenue West neighbourhood, a predominantly Jewish residential area. The speaker alleged that Jews use “black magic,” rape, murder and eat children. The incident occurred over a recent weekend; police have not disclosed an exact date. Authorities are urging anyone with information to contact the unit at 416-808-3505 or Crime Stoppers anonymously.
Background and Context
The Bathurst-Sheppard intersection has been a focal point for pro-Palestine demonstrations since the Hamas attacks of October 7 2023. Community leaders have described a “permissive environment” that has allowed repeated anti-Israel chants and, more recently, overt antisemitic rhetoric. Earlier protests have featured reenactments of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar’s final moments (November 2024) and other violent slogans. The area has also seen a surge in antisemitic incidents, including gunfire directed at Temple Emanu-El (March 2026) and multiple attacks on Jewish-owned businesses in August 2026.
Official Statements & Responses
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) released a statement condemning the speech as “blatant antisemitism” and called for “justice” and “consequences.” The Toronto Police Service confirmed that its Hate Crime Unit is leading the probe and appealed to the public for witnesses.
Criticism & Opposition
Jewish-community groups argue that the incident reflects a broader failure to curb hate speech at public protests.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Abbas Hamze also calls for the kidnapping of Israeli hostages, stating that ‘Hamas has the right to take hostages on October 7th 2023,’ while also claiming ‘Hezbollah has the right to assist Hamas on October 8th,’” — Hamze. Leviathan
- “Abbas Hamze has also been pictured holding up flags of the Islamic Republic of Iran in this Jewish neighborhood while also writing, ‘We will continue the path of Imam Khamenei, no matter how many sacrifices are made, and his pure blood will bear the inevitable victory.’” — Hamze. Leviathan
- “Week after week, for nearly three years, the Jewish community has been harassed and targeted at Bathurst and Sheppard, the heart of a Toronto Jewish neighbourhood,” — CIJA
- “This cannot be allowed to continue without consequences,” — CIJA
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Date of the incident: CP24 and Israel National News report that the speech occurred “over the weekend” without specifying a calendar day, while the Jerusalem Post article references a protest on March 14 2026 but does not link that event to the hate-speech incident. No source provides a precise date for the speech itself.
Impact and Ongoing Concerns
The episode adds to a pattern of antisemitic harassment that has prompted Toronto officials to ban protests on residential streets near Bathurst and Sheppard, citing “increased volatility and heightened fear.” Community organizations continue to monitor the situation, urging law-enforcement to enforce hate-crime statutes and to protect the neighbourhood from further incitement.
