About a month ago, Raquel Look selected Monday to hold a ceremony in Côte Saint-Luc, Quebec, commemorating the second anniversary of the October 7, 2023, assaults in Israel that resulted in the death of her son, Alexandre Look. Alexandre was among the 1,200 individuals who lost their lives that day when Hamas insurgents attacked a music festival in southern Israel, abducting 251 others, according to Israeli sources. Alexandre perished while protecting fellow shelter-seekers in a bunker, with his parents listening helplessly over the phone at home. The ceremony on Monday, conducted to pay tribute to the victims in Côte Saint-Luc, a Montreal suburb, took place in a park named after Alexandre Look. Raquel Look noted that the event held a special significance as it coincided with the liberation of the final 20 surviving Israeli captives. Describing Alexandre as a hero, many speakers during the ceremony highlighted the transformation of a gloomy day into a moment of celebration.
Liberal MP Anthony Housefather, representing the Mount Royal riding, acknowledged the ordeal faced by the Look family and expressed hope for enduring peace in the Middle East following the release of the hostages. Eta Yudin, Vice President of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the potential for peace and the cessation of hostilities in the region. Montrealers welcomed the ceasefire brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump, which led to the release of numerous prisoners held by Israel. Niall Clapham Ricardo, a member of Independent Jewish Voices, reflected on the lengthy journey to this point, marked by devastation in the Gaza Strip and numerous Palestinian casualties. Faraj Nakhleh, a Palestinian native residing in Canada, welcomed the hostage release as a positive development for both sides, acknowledging the substantial challenges ahead in terms of rebuilding and healing.
In mid-August, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification declared a famine in Gaza, citing dire conditions faced by over half a million individuals characterized by starvation and destitution. A subsequent United Nations inquiry accused Israel of genocide in Gaza, a claim vehemently refuted by Israeli authorities. McGill University political science professor Rex Brynen highlighted the monumental task of rebuilding Gaza’s infrastructure, with the necessity for international pressure on Hamas and Israel to fulfill their obligations for progress.
