Mayor ‘Had’ To Delete Gaza Post

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow deleted an Instagram post welcoming a Palestinian family fleeing Gaza at Pearson International Airport.

Published on Monday, the post also condemned Israel’s ongoing human rights violations in Gaza, urged the nation to allow humanitarian aid into the enclave, and praised Canada’s denunciation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“Famine should never be used as a weapon of war,” Chow wrote in her caption.

In the video accompanying the post, an interpreter translates the words of the Palestinian mother, who expresses both gratitude and heartbreak, explaining that her husband—a mere skeleton of “skin and bones”—had stayed behind, leaving the family incomplete without him. Chow responded with compassion, stating that she would do whatever she could to help.

 The post included screenshots from a Toronto Star op-ed Chow wrote in March 2024, drawing a parallel between starvation in Gaza and her own family’s suffering during World War II in China.

However, the post quickly attracted hateful comments. Some individuals claimed the family’s arrival undermined reports of famine, while others suggested they posed a threat to Canadians.

On Tuesday, Mayor Chow’s office confirmed that the video was removed to protect the Palestinian family’s safety and not due to any threats directed at Chow herself.

 The decision has received mixed reactions. Critics argue that the removal shows the mayor bowing to political pressure, while others defend it as a necessary step to safeguard the newcomer family.

Chow’s office maintains that the city will continue to welcome those fleeing violence.

Chow’s remarks come as global leaders express deep concern over the famine in Gaza, where children are reportedly dying from hunger. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has joined international calls for action, while Israel asserts that recognizing a Palestinian state would embolden Hamas.