Raquel Look recently selected a Monday in Côte Saint-Luc, Que., to commemorate the tragic events of the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks in Israel that claimed the life of her son, Alexandre Look. Alexandre was among the 1,200 individuals who lost their lives that day when Hamas militants raided a music festival in southern Israel, abducting 251 others, according to Israeli sources. Alexandre bravely perished while protecting fellow shelter seekers in a bunker, as his distraught parents listened helplessly on the phone at home.
The ceremony held on Monday was a tribute to the victims in Côte Saint-Luc, a Montreal suburb on the island, at a park named after Alexandre Look. Raquel Look mentioned that the timing of the event coincided with the release of the final 20 Israeli hostages, adding a new dimension to the day. She expressed, “I believe Alex guided me to this day because he always finds a way to bring a glimmer of joy to the saddest occasions.”
Numerous speakers at the ceremony hailed Alexandre as a hero and reflected on how a sorrowful day had evolved into a moment of celebration. Liberal MP Anthony Housefather, representing the Mount Royal riding, acknowledged the Look family’s resilience and expressed hope for lasting peace in the region. Eta Yudin, vice-president of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the potential for peace and the end of hostilities.
Amid a ceasefire brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump, hundreds of prisoners detained by Israel were also released on Monday. Montreal resident Niall Clapham Ricardo, a member of Independent Jewish Voices, highlighted the mix of emotions surrounding the releases, noting the toll taken by the conflict in the Gaza Strip over the past two years. Faraj Nakhleh, a Palestinian-native Canadian, emphasized the importance of the hostages’ freedom for both sides and the long road to rebuilding and reconciliation.
In mid-August, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification declared a famine in Gaza, citing dire conditions faced by over half a million residents. A United Nations report later accused Israel of genocide in Gaza, a claim vehemently denied by Israeli authorities. McGill University professor Rex Brynen emphasized the monumental task of rebuilding Gaza’s infrastructure and the need for sustained international pressure on both Hamas and Israel to honor their commitments for lasting peace in the region.
