Toronto, 26th\u00a0March 2026\u00a0\u2013\u00a0ICJP Canada has been made aware of an event\u00a0being hosted by Toronto Metropolitan University\u00a0(TMU)\u00a0student group \u2018Students Supporting Israel\u2019 (SSI) which aims to host soldiers of the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) as part of\u00a0\u2018The Triggered: Ceaseless Tour\u2019 who will share \u2018first-hand\u00a0experience\u2019 of being enlisted in the IOF during its genocide in Gaza. The event is planned for today at an undisclosed location.<\/p>\n
This is at least the fourth time over the past year that IOF\u00a0soldiers have been hosted at such events in Toronto. Today\u2019s event comes just four months after students were allegedly assaulted by an IOF soldier in Toronto for opposing a similar event.<\/p>\n
Despite a new regulation requiring\u00a0all TMU-affiliated groups to seek approval by the school for events, including ones that take place off campus, it appears that the TMU administration continues to allow these students to host IOF soldiers.<\/p>\n
ICJP Canada extends its solidarity and support to TMU\u2019s Students for Justice in Palestine, and echoes their demands for the TMU administration:\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cancel \u2018The Triggered: Ceaseless Tour\u2019 on March 26th hosted by SSI,\u00a0and implement and enforce clear policies to prohibit the participation or presence of foreign military personnel and representatives being hosted by university-sponsored clubs, university related events and\/or in university spaces;\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Release a public statement condemning SSI\u2019s past instances of platforming IOF soldiers, acknowledging the harm these events cause to our community, and affirm the right of students to engage in advocacy and protest, and guarantee that no student will face academic, disciplinary, or administrative sanctions for exercising those right;\u00a0<\/p>\n
Implement clear policies to recognise Anti-Palestinian Racism (APR) as a distinct form of racism, as defined by the Arab Canadian Lawyers Association, and ensure it is not conflated with Islamophobia or anti-Arab racism, and to integrate this recognition into the university\u2019s harassment and discrimination policies;\u00a0<\/p>\n
Remove SSI\u2019s status as a student group from campus, revoking any privileges including, but not limited to, event bookings and access to campus spaces;\u00a0<\/p>\n
and for TMU to\u00a0divest the institution\u2019s endowment, capital assets, and other financial holdings from companies, corporations, businesses, and portfolios that sustain Israeli apartheid, occupation, genocide, ethnic cleansing, and\/or other violent, oppressive acts enforced by Israel.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
ICJP Canada spokesperson, Asaf Rashid, said:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is un-conscionable that Toronto Metropolitan University would allow, repeatedly, its\u00a0affiliated student groups to host and amplify soldiers of a military that is under investigation by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity. The UN\u2019s Independent\u00a0International\u00a0Commission of Inquiry has also ruled Israel\u2019s military actions in Gaza to be a genocide.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
The university\u2019s priority should be ensuring all students, including Palestinians, feel safe.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n
ENDS\u00a0<\/p>\n
Notes to Editors:\u00a0<\/p>\n
The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians is an independent organisation of lawyers, politicians and academics who support the rights of Palestinians and aim to protect their rights through the law.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For more information, or to arrange an interview with a spokesperson, please contact the ICJP news desk at\u202f[email\u00a0protected]<\/a>.<\/p>\n