Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other Canadian authorities have condemned demonstrations across Canada glorifying violence by supporting Palestinian Islamist group Hamas' attack on Israel, while at Harvard University a student statement blaming Israel has been condemned.
The Israeli government says that the number of Israelis killed in a surprise attack by Hamas that began on the weekend has risen to 900, while almost 700 people have been killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza.
There were competing demonstrations and rallies through Monday by different groups across Canada, including in Toronto, where some 1000 protesters gathered in a demonstration organized by a group called Palestinian Youth Movement.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow denounced the demonstrations in the city and said they were unsanctioned. Chow added: "The government of Canada has rightly listed Hamas as a terrorist organisation."
A coalition of 34 Harvard students organisations said they "hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence" following decades of occupation, adding that "the apartheid regime is the only one to blame."
Israel has announced a complete siege of the Gaza strip - where the militants are based - cutting off supplies of food water and fuel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that the Israel Defence Forces' air strikes against Gaza were just the beginning.
He said "a number of Palestinian gunmen are still inside Israel".
The Al-Qasam brigades, known as the armed wing of Hamas, threatened to kill Israeli hostages if Palestinian civilians were not warned about impending air strikes.
- Reuters / BBC
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