Trudeau's Toronto event with Italy PM Meloni cancelled due to proPalestinian protest

A Toronto event where Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was sched‐ uled to host his Italian counterpart was cancelled on Saturday evening due to security concerns as hun‐ dreds of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered out‐ side the venue, a spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office said.

Demonstrators outside the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) criticized the federal government's handling of the

Israel-Hamas war and chanted that Trudeau was funding a genocide in Gaza.

Police told CBC News there were roughly 200 to 300 protesters outside the AGO on Saturday, but noted it was difficult to estimate the total size of the demonstra‐ tion as protesters gathered outside several entrances.

"Due to security concerns, the event was cancelled," a spokesperson for the PMO told CBC News on Saturday night via email.

Would-be attendees gath‐ ered outside were confron‐ ted by demonstrators, with their paths to entry blocked. Some were later escorted to the building's entrance by police.

International Develop‐ ment Minister Ahmed Hussen tried to enter through the main entrance, but protesters blocked his path and followed him for two blocks as he tried to en‐ ter a more secure location while flanked by police.

Giorgia Meloni, Italy's prime minister since 2022, was in Toronto for meetings with Trudeau. The two G7 leaders discussed a wide range of topics, including what Meloni called the "very difficult Middle East crisis."

Israel declared war on Hamas following an Oct. 7 at‐ tack that saw 1,200 people killed and some 250 kid‐ napped by the Islamist mili‐ tants, according to Israeli tal‐ lies.

The subsequent military operation by Israel in Hamascontrolled Gaza has now killed more than 30,000 peo‐ ple, most of them women and children, Gaza health of‐ ficials say.

Canada, which considers Hamas a terrorist group, has repeatedly said that Israel has the right to defend itself, but Ottawa has more re‐ cently called for a ceasefire in the conflict due to the deteri‐ orating humanitarian crisis in Gaza.