WATCH: Did you know Jesus was as Palestinian freedom fighter? Neither did we.

At a Quds Day rally in Toronto yesterday (Sunday), a speaker described Jesus as "one of the oldest Palestinian freedom fighters of all time." The claim, tied to an annual pro-Palestinian event, has sparked outrage and debate online, with many calling it a distortion of history. While it may serve as a provocative symbol for some activists, the portrayal collapses under scrutiny—Jesus was neither "Palestinian" nor a "freedom fighter" in any historical sense. Here’s why.

Jesus Was a Jew, Not a Palestinian

Jesus was born in Bethlehem, in the region of Judea, around 4-6 BCE, under Roman occupation. This is undisputed in historical and religious texts. He was a Jew, born to Jewish parents, and lived within a Jewish cultural and religious framework. His teachings were delivered in synagogues and directed at Jewish audiences.

The term "Palestinian" didn’t exist as a political or ethnic identity in Jesus’s time. The region was called Judea, part of the Roman province of the same name. It wasn’t until after the Bar Kokhba Revolt (132-135 CE)—over a century after Jesus’s death—that Emperor Hadrian renamed it Syria Palaestina to punish rebellious Jews and erase their territorial claims. "Palestine" as a modern national identity emerged even later, tied to Arab populations in the 20th century. Calling Jesus a "Palestinian" is an anachronism, like labeling Julius Caesar an "Italian" or Cleopatra an "Egyptian nationalist." It imposes a contemporary label on a figure who predates it by centuries.

No Evidence of a "Freedom Fighter"

The "freedom fighter" tag is equally baseless. The Gospels portray Jesus as a spiritual leader, not a militant. Roman records, like those from Pontius Pilate’s era, and Jewish sources, like the Talmud, mention him as a religious figure executed for blasphemy or sedition—not as a rebel leader.

Contrast this with actual Jewish resistance movements of the time. The Zealots, a militant group, fought Roman rule with weapons, culminating in the First Jewish-Roman War (66-73 CE). Jesus, however, distanced himself from such actions. To cast him as a "freedom fighter" rewrites his life into something unrecognizable to historians or believers.

Why the Claim Emerges

So why say it? The Toronto rally, part of Quds Day—an Iranian-backed event since 1979—aims to rally support for Palestinians against Israel. Framing Jesus as a "Palestinian fighter" fits a narrative tying ancient oppression to modern conflicts. Bethlehem, his birthplace, lies in today’s Judea and Samaria, under partial Palestinian control, making it tempting for activists to claim him as a symbol of resistance against occupation—then Roman, now Israeli in their view. It’s a rhetorical move, not a historical one, meant to inspire rather than inform.

This isn’t new. Pro-Palestinian activists have sporadically linked Jesus to their cause, as seen in a December 2023 Toronto protest chant, “Jesus was a Palestinian” (@realmonsanto, X). It’s a way to universalize the struggle, leveraging his global recognition. But symbolism doesn’t make it true.

The Nonsense Exposed

The claim fails basic tests of history:

Scholars—Christian, Jewish, or secular—agree on this. Bart Ehrman, a leading historian, calls Jesus a Jewish apocalyptic preacher, not a nationalist. Israeli archaeologist Israel Finkelstein notes no evidence of a distinct "Palestinian" identity in the first century. Even Muslim tradition, which reveres Jesus as a prophet (Isa), places him in a Jewish context, not a Palestinian one.

Why It Matters

This isn’t just academic nitpicking. Misrepresenting Jesus risks inflaming tensions in a city like Toronto, home to sizable Jewish, Christian, and Muslim communities. Quds Day rallies already draw criticism for antisemitic undertones—B’nai Brith Canada has long flagged them for hate speech. Portraying a Jewish figure as a Palestinian fighter could be seen as erasing Jewish history, especially amid rising local antisemitism concerns (National Post, March 2025). For Christians, it distorts a foundational figure into a political pawn.

The speaker’s intent—whether provocation, ignorance, or symbolism—doesn’t change the facts. Jesus lived 2,000 years ago in a world without "Palestine" or freedom fighters as we define them. The Toronto claim is nonsense not just because it’s offensive, but because it’s demonstrably untrue. History isn’t a buffet—you can’t pick and choose to suit your rally, even if it is 2025.