The National Security Council elevated the travel warning for Canada on Sunday from level 1 (no warning) to level 2 – "occasional threat", due to increasing terrorist threats against Israelis and Jews.
Over the past year and a half, attacks on Jewish institutions, including shootings, Molotov cocktail incidents, and threats against Israelis and Jews, have occurred. The council advises Israelis in Canada to exercise heightened caution, avoid displaying Jewish or Israeli symbols, and remain vigilant in public spaces.
Israeli security officials now urge all citizens in Canada or considering travel there to implement enhanced protective measures, conceal identifying Israeli or Jewish markers, and exercise heightened awareness in public settings.
Video: Anthems being sung after the march in support of Israel in Vancouver / Credit: Erez Linn
Anti-Israel organizations are expected to hold protests in Canada, particularly in Toronto and Waterloo, on Sunday, coinciding with pro-Israel events. Recent rhetoric surrounding these events has intensified, with statements suggesting intent to harm Israelis and Jews violently. The council recommends that attendees of pro-Israel events follow local security and police instructions and avoid confrontations with anti-Israel protesters.
The upgraded warning represents a significant shift in Israel's assessment of the security environment facing its citizens in Canada, a country that has traditionally been considered relatively safe for Jewish travelers and residents. Ever since the attacks of Oct. 7, Jewish residents in Canada have reported increasing hostility and threat, including harassment and calls in support of the Hamas massacre, leading some to counter with their own protests in defense of Israel.
