Jews, Palestinians and their allies working with Winnipeg police to keep Oct. 7 anniversary events peaceful

Community leaders say they feel reassured as Winnipeg police outlines plans for patrols and monitoring ahead of the one-year anniversary of the start of the Israel-Hamas war.

The Winnipeg Police Service said in a release Thursday it's putting its focus on places of worship and other gatherings in light of the Jewish high holy days and the first anniversary of Hamas's Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, which led to that country's invasion of the Gaza Strip.

The release said the efforts will include patrols by uniformed members, as well as some officers stationed at places where large gatherings are expected during their regular duties.

It adds there will be police presence monitoring both an event hosted by the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg at the Asper Campus marking the anniversary Monday, as well as during a regularly occurring pro-Palestinian rally that will take place at the Manitoba Legislature on Saturday.

"We commend the organizers of these events for finding the balance between gathering to highlight their concerns, while refraining from conducting counter-protests," the release said. 

"This has been a unique situation from what has been seen in other cities and it has minimized the need for significant police deployments."

Gustavo Zentner, vice-president of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs and the former president of the federation, said police have been in talks with community groups about their security plans and that he expects the anniversary gathering will unfold peacefully.

Zentner said the news release serves as a reminder that while counter-protesters have a right to voice their opinions, they should leave a safe space for communities to congregate.

"We have seen significant protests and demonstrations against the Jewish community for issues that are happening in Israel, in the Middle East, and that has led to a surge in antisemitism," he said.

The release does acknowledge that, like other police services across the country, Winnipeg police have suffered from some operational strains as the frequency of gatherings related to the war in the Middle East increases.

'We have to be very careful and very vigilant': Palestinian association

Police said they are also working with community leaders amid an increase in antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents.

"To see so many … police resources dedicated to the safety and protection of a community, it certainly takes away from other ongoing activities and other police work," Zentner said.

Ramsey Zeid, president of the Canadian Palestinian Association of Manitoba — which organizes the weekly pro-Palestinian rallies in the city — said the group is in touch with police every week, and that their presence during their upcoming rally comes as no surprise.

"We've been very fortunate here in Winnipeg, we haven't had any real issues with the police presence," he said.

Zeid said the rallies to continue to go smoothly, but that the organization does have contingency plans in case anything goes awry.

"Islamophobia has risen in the last year.… With this anniversary, it'll be no different," Zeid said.

"We have to be very careful and very vigilant and have to watch out and just be mindful of everybody's safety, with everybody's emotion really flying high."

The association will also hold a gathering outside the Canadian Human Rights Museum on Oct. 7, to honour the Palestinians killed during the conflict.