Thousands of members of Toronto鈥檚 Jewish community marched down a major city artery on Sunday as part of an annual pro-Israel event that unfolded amid heightened security and protests along the route.
The United Jewish Appeal held its annual 鈥淲alk with Israel,鈥� which involves a five-kilometre walk and a festival in the city鈥檚 north end.
March participants, who were expected to turn out in record numbers, waved Israeli flags and carried posters of those taken hostage during the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas that triggered the latest war with Israel.
The UJA estimated that 50,000 people participated, but Toronto police said they won鈥檛 have an official estimate until the event is fully wrapped up later on Sunday.
The march was accompanied by a strong police presence and private security personnel, with a large stretch of Bathurst Street blocked off for the event. Marchers encountered two groups of protesters within the first hour of the walk, with police using buses to obstruct demonstrators鈥� view of the event.
Duelling chants of 鈥渇ree, free Palestine鈥� and 鈥渂ring them home鈥� rang out when the groups crossed paths at the corner of Bathurst Street and Sheppard Avenue and some heated exchanges occurred. Police officers formed barriers between the two groups and intervened in confrontations.
Several pro-Palestinian protesters encountered along the march route declined a request for comment. Their placards and chants expressed opposition to Israel鈥檚 massive offensive in Gaza since Oct. 7.
The United Jewish Appeal Federation of Greater Toronto鈥檚 Noah Shack said the amount of security surrounding the event was 鈥渁 sad testament to where our city is right now.鈥�
In an interview before the march began, he said there鈥檚 been 鈥渁n explosion of hate鈥� directed at Toronto鈥檚 Jewish community since the start of the latest war and the event was a show of support and resilience.
鈥淲alk with Israel鈥� attendees also included some people whose family members were taken hostage by Hamas.
Avichai Brodutch, whose wife and three children were released from captivity in November, said it was 鈥渞eally important for us to come over to Toronto and meet the community and tell our story to the people of Canada.鈥�
鈥淚 feel at home being here and seeing everybody come and showing their support,鈥� said Brodutch, whose brother lives in Toronto.
Brodutch said the community is also celebrating the rescue of four Israeli hostages from Gaza on Saturday.
Gaza鈥檚 Health Ministry said Sunday that at least 274 Palestinians, including dozens of children, were killed, as part of that rescue operation.
Toronto resident Maayan Shavit said her cousin is still being held hostage by Hamas.
鈥淲e know from the beginning that she鈥檚 being held underground,鈥� she said, adding that her family is hoping for a 鈥渕iracle.鈥�
Shavit said she wants the world to understand 鈥渢hat human beings are not for trade.鈥�
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 trade people 鈥� they are not soldiers, they are civilians.鈥�
Several groups representing Jews who oppose Israel鈥檚 actions in Gaza urged community members to instead sit with the students at a pro-Palestinian encampment on the University of Toronto campus on Sunday.
鈥淔or a growing number of Jews here in Canada, witnessing the continued siege and assault on Gaza fills us with horror and grief for what is being done in our name,鈥� Jonathan Brown Gilbert, a University of Toronto graduate student at the encampment said in an emailed statement a day before the march.
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