“Montreal Ceremony Honors Victims of 2023 Israel Attacks”

Approximately a month ago, Raquel Look selected Monday for a gathering in Côte Saint-Luc, Quebec, to commemorate the second anniversary of the Oct. 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 during an attack by Hamas militants at a music festival in southern Israel, where 251 people were also taken hostage, according to Israeli sources.

Alexandre perished while protecting others who, like him, had sought shelter in a bunker while his parents listened helplessly on the phone at their residence.

The ceremony on Monday was conducted to pay tribute to the victims in Côte Saint-Luc, a suburb of Montreal on the island, at a park named after Alexandre Look.

His mother mentioned that the event took on an entirely new significance, coinciding with the liberation of the final 20 surviving Israeli hostages.

“I think Alex guided me to this date because he always manages to infuse a bit of joy into the saddest of days,” she remarked.

This occasion has been long-awaited by many in Montreal’s Jewish community.

“None of us slept,” Look expressed.

“We anxiously awaited their release, similar to how we await the return of our own family members, realizing that we are truly one family.”

Several speakers at the Monday event described Alexandre as a hero and emphasized how a sorrowful and solemn day had transformed into a celebration.

“The Look family serves as a reminder that behind today’s positive developments, a nightmare existed,” stated Liberal MP Anthony Housefather, who represents the Mount Royal constituency.

Housefather expressed optimism, celebrating the hostages’ release and the potential for sustained peace in the Middle East.

Eta Yudin, vice-president of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, echoed similar sentiments.

“For some, Oct. 7 represented an enduring two-year ordeal, and now we can start anew,” she remarked. “There is a glimmer of hope for genuine peace and an end to all hostilities.”

Montreal Residents Embrace Ceasefire, Question Next Steps

As part of the ceasefire agreement facilitated by U.S. President Donald Trump, numerous prisoners held by Israel were also set free on Monday.

Montreal resident Niall Clapham Ricardo, a member of the advocacy group Independent Jewish Voices, noted that their release signifies moments of both joy and sorrow.

“It took two years to reach this point,” he mentioned, during which conflicts ravaged the Gaza Strip and claimed tens of thousands of Palestinian lives.

“Future generations will look back and wonder how many thresholds were crossed,” he added.

Faraj Nakhleh, a Canadian resident originally from the Palestinian territories, highlighted the positive implications of the hostages’ release for both sides.

“Nobody should endure being forcibly separated from their families and loved ones,” he asserted.

While optimistic about the prospects for peace and freedom, he acknowledged that rebuilding will require time.