Ottawa police stated that there will be more patrols around Jewish temples and mosques this weekend after Hamas militants attacked Israeli towns near the Gaza Strip on Saturday.

The Israeli National Rescue Service reported that at least 200 people have been killed and hundreds more injured in the unexpected attack, which has drawn condemnation from around the world, including Ottawa.

Both Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre condemned Hamas, labeling them as terrorists. New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh stated that "terrorism and violence do not solve anything," and called for the release of all hostages.

In a social media post, Ottawa police indicated that the attack in Israel has an impact on the community here in the Canadian capital.

The police added, "We have increased our police presence in areas of religious significance, including Jewish temples and mosques." "We are also communicating with community partners to ensure they know we are here to support them."

The police also pledged to have zero tolerance for hate crimes, which will be fully investigated. According to data from the Project Services Office, 221 hate-motivated incidents were reported in the city in the first half of 2023, with Jewish residents being the most commonly targeted.

Outside the Soloway Jewish Community Center, local resident Jessica Cohen stated that her husband’s family lives in Israel, adding: "We feel sick. This is a different war." "We feel sad. My husband is at home and cannot go about our daily business. You just feel this emptiness and want to help, but we are far away."