A Toronto pro-Palestinian protester has been charged with terrorism for allegedly linking to Hamas
A pro-Palestinian protester has been charged with terrorism in connection with his actions with Hamas, Toronto police said Wednesday.
Ahmad Hassan Hajahmad, 33, was arrested following a joint investigation by Toronto police’s hate crime unit and the RCMP’s national security team.
He appeared in court on Tuesday.
In a statement, the Toronto Police Service said that between May 25 and September 7, 2024, Hajahmad attended protests representing Palestine in the city of Toronto.
Using a microphone, Hajahmad made public statements advocating “harm to members of the Israeli and Jewish communities,” police said.
Police say they searched his residence on March 7, 2025, and took “a lot of electronics.”
The evidence supports “allegations that the accused acted for the benefit of, and in collaboration with, Hamas, a designated terrorist group,” police added.
Ontario and federal prosecutors approved the charges on July 20.
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Hamas is an “Islamist-nationalist terrorist organization,” according to Public Safety Canada’s website. It is on Canada’s list of designated terrorist groups.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas gunmen crossed into Israel and killed more than 800 civilians, including Canadian citizens. The Israeli military response killed tens of thousands of Palestinians.
The case against Hajahmad makes an alleged unusual connection between the Palestinian protests and the terrorist organization Hamas.
Hajahmad has been charged with participating in or contributing to the activities of a terrorist group. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison.
“Investigations into crimes committed at protests do not end when the event is over,” said Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw.
He said police were working in conjunction with the RCMP’s Integrated National Security Enforcement Team to “proceed with the terrorism warrant investigation.”
“This complex investigation underscores the importance of continuing to strengthen our Counter Terrorism Security Unit to better identify and investigate evolving threats to public safety.”
Hajahmad could not be reached for comment. He was due back in court in Toronto on Aug. 26.
Hate crimes against the Canadian Jewish community spiked following the October 7 Hamas attack, but died down last year.
According to figures released by Statistics Canada on Wednesday, Jews will be the victims of 71 percent of religious hate crimes by 2025.
But anti-Semitic acts have also increased since the US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran on Feb. 28.
Stewart.Bell@globalnews.ca
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