Sa’ar Urges Canada to Act After Brutal Montreal Assault on Jewish Father

By: Fern Sidman

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has urged Canada to intensify efforts against antisemitism following the release of a disturbing video showing a violent assault on a Jewish man in Montreal. As Israel National News reported on Sunday, the footage, which circulated widely online, depicts the 32-year-old victim being physically attacked on a public street while in the presence of his children.

In a statement shared on his official X account, Sa’ar condemned the assault in the strongest terms, writing, “The incident shown in this video is shocking and stomach-turning. A Jewish father was beaten in front of his daughter in Montreal, Canada, yesterday.”

He further drew a stark historical parallel, stating, “These are images reminiscent of dark periods of Jewish persecution. This is appalling. The Canadian government must do more to fight antisemitism!”

According to the information provided in the Israel National News report, the Montreal police have opened an active investigation into the attack. Authorities confirmed that the victim sustained injuries that, while not life-threatening, were the result of repeated blows. No arrests had been announced at the time of reporting, and law enforcement is appealing for public assistance in identifying the perpetrator.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also issued a public statement, denouncing the assault as “an appalling act of violence.” He affirmed, “Everyone in Canada has an inalienable right to live in safety. My thoughts are with the victim and his family as they recover, and my support is with law enforcement as they work to bring the perpetrator to justice.”

The incident comes against the backdrop of a marked rise in antisemitic activity across Canada since the Hamas-led assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, and the ensuing war in Gaza. The Israel National News report highlighted that Jewish advocacy groups have repeatedly warned of an increasingly hostile environment, particularly in urban centers, where rallies and protests have often featured openly anti-Jewish rhetoric.

Statistics Canada data released in late July underscores the severity of the problem. In 2024, there were 920 police-reported antisemitic hate crimes nationwide, cementing Jews as the most targeted religious minority in the country. Analysts noted that this figure means Jews are 25 times more likely to be victims of hate-motivated crimes than the average Canadian citizen.

While the 2024 total marked a slight decline from the 959 incidents recorded in 2023, it remains drastically higher than pre-October 7 figures. In 2022, for example, only 527 antisemitic hate crimes were reported—a number already considered troubling by Jewish community leaders.

Community security organizations, including B’nai Brith Canada and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, have long pressed federal and provincial governments to address what they describe as an “unprecedented antisemitism crisis.” They argue that existing hate crime statutes are under-enforced, and that online platforms have amplified antisemitic conspiracy theories and incitement.

The Israel National News report also noted that the attack in Montreal fits a broader pattern seen globally, in which Jewish individuals—often visibly identifiable by religious dress—are targeted in street assaults and harassment. In recent months, multiple Canadian synagogues, schools, and community centers have reported vandalism, threatening graffiti, and online threats.

In response to the latest incident, several Canadian Jewish organizations issued coordinated statements calling for decisive action. They urged increased funding for law enforcement hate crime units, enhanced community security measures, and the swift prosecution of offenders under existing laws.

Montreal’s Jewish community leaders also pointed out that the assault occurred in full view of the victim’s children, compounding the psychological trauma and underscoring the brazenness of the attack. One rabbi, speaking to Israel National News, described it as “a brutal reminder that antisemitism is not abstract—it is a lived danger for Jewish families in Canada today.”

Sa’ar’s comments mark one of the strongest official Israeli condemnations of antisemitic violence in Canada in recent years. As the Israel National News report emphasized, his direct call for Ottawa to “do more” reflects growing impatience within Israel’s leadership over the international community’s response to antisemitism since the start of the Gaza war.

For now, Montreal police say their investigation is ongoing, with forensic teams reviewing the widely circulated video and other surveillance footage from the area. Authorities have not disclosed whether they believe the attacker was known to the victim or acted opportunistically.

As the search continues, both Israeli and Canadian officials face mounting pressure from Jewish advocacy groups to ensure that this case is not just resolved, but serves as a turning point in tackling the surge of antisemitic hate crimes.