Olivia Chow's 'genocide' remarks spark calls for apology, resignation
Jewish groups say her accusations add to the fear, intimidation Toronto's Jews face
Author of the article:Bryan Passifiume
Published Nov 03, 2025 • Last updated 1 day ago • 3 minute read
Calls are growing for Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow to apologize — and even resign — after she publicly accused Israel of committing “genocide.”
Chow made the comments over the weekend at an event organized by the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM,) where she compared Israel’s operations to eliminate Palestinian terror to Japan’s ruthless and brutal occupation of China during the Second World War.
“My mother was a child in a war zone, she suffered famine caused by Japan when they invaded China during the Second World War,” she told the crowd during her address on Saturday.
“At just 13 years old, alone after my grandmother died of dysentery, she was responsible for keeping her two brothers alive.”
During her remarks, Chow said Toronto, as a global city, “feels the pain” of what happens around the world.
“The genocide in Gaza impacts us all,” Chow said.
“And I will speak out when children anywhere are feeling the pain and violence and hunger.”
Invitations to Chow’s office for comment by the Toronto Sun went unacknowledged.
Groups call Chow ‘reckless and irresponsible’
Jewish and Israeli groups reacted with alarm to the mayor’s statements.
Avi Benlolo, chairman and CEO of the Abraham Global Peace Initiative (AGPI), called on Chow to immediately apologize for her “reckless and irresponsible” remarks.
“I was absolutely shocked that she made such an inflammatory statement that is both untrue and sows antisemitism, and supports the denial and distortion about the war in Gaza,” he said, questioning why Chow’s remarks didn’t also include denunciation of atrocities committed by Palestinian terror groups like Hamas.
“It was bad on all accounts, and for a mayor of the largest city in Canada, it was purely reckless and very irresponsible.”
B’nai Brith Canada’s Richard Robertson questioned why the mayor is choosing to sow discord instead of de-escalating the hate that’s plagued Toronto.
“The mayor, through her decision to callously spread disinformation, has emboldened those who wish to use geopolitical issues to justify the spread of hate domestically,” he said.
“At a time when she should be doing everything in her power to combat antisemitism, she has chosen to instigate those who engage against the Jewish community.”
Noah Shack, CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, called the mayor’s comments reckless, divisive, and dangerous.
“Such language distorts fact and law, and it legitimizes the hostility and intimidation that Jewish Torontonians are already facing in record numbers,” he said.
“By echoing that narrative, Mayor Chow lends support to those spreading malicious libels and undermine public confidence in her commitment to the safety, dignity, and inclusion of all Torontonians.”
He said Toronto’s Jewish community expects Chow to make this right by addressing her comments caused, and taking action to both restore trust and ensure the community’s safety.
Chow’s comments ‘calculated insult’
The Canadian Antisemitism Foundation described Chow’s comments as a “calculated insult” against Toronto’s Jewish community, and calls for her resignation.
“The only Gaza genocide was the massacre perpetrated by Hamas and its allies against Israelis on October 7, 2023,” read a statement issued Monday.
“Somehow, we doubt that’s what the mayor was referencing.”
The statement described accusations of “genocide” as both false and defamatory to the State of Israel, and further increases risk to the GTA Jewish community, who’ve been under relentless attack since Oct. 7 by Toronto-based far-left and anti-Israel activists.
“Given the multiple violent attacks against Toronto’s Jewish businesses and community institutions since the October 7, 2023 massacre, Mayor Chow’s words will do more of the same,” the statement read.
“This is reprehensible and inexcusable.”
Call for Chow to focus locally
Chow’s comments also aren’t sitting well with members of Toronto city council.
Ward 19 Councillor Brad Bradford told the Sun that Chow should focus on issues impacting her city instead of foreign affairs.
“I wish Mayor Chow was telling people what she would do to ensure the safety of everyone in Toronto, rather than weighing in on a conflict thousands of miles away — especially when it runs counter to the government of Canada’s position,” he Bradford.
Indeed, anti-Jewish hatred in Canada hit record highs in 2024, according to B’nai Birth Canada’s annual report — up a staggering 124% since 2022.
Anti-Israel activists regularly hold intimidation rallies in city streets, in front of Jewish-owned businesses and even through Toronto’s Jewish neighbourhoods, and are responsible for numerous acts of arson, vandalism and even shootings at Jewish community centres, schools and synagogues,.
“When you make a statement like that, it only emboldens the other side, it endorses that kind of behaviour,” Benlolo said.
bpassifiume@postmedia.com
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Jewish groups say Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow's accusations of an Israeli genocide add to the fear, intimidation local Jews face. Read more.
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