A pro-Israel march is underway in Toronto Sunday amid heightened security and a related protest.
The United Jewish Appeal is holding its annual “Walk with Israel” event, which involves a five-kilometre walk and a festival in the city’s north end.
Toronto police have said they aim to “avoid confrontations” by designating certain areas for those who plan to protest the event, and they have warned that anyone engaging in criminal behaviour will be arrested.
Officers from various other police forces are also present, and a large stretch of Bathurst Street has been blocked off for the march.
The United Jewish Appeal Federation of Greater Toronto’s Noah Shack says “tens of thousands” were expected to attend this year’s event as a show of resilience in the face of “an explosion of hate” directed at the city’s Jewish community since the start of the Israel-Hamas war.
“Walk with Israel” attendees also include some people whose family members were taken hostage by Hamas.
Several groups representing Jews who oppose Israel’s actions in Gaza are urging community members to instead sit with the students at a pro-Palestinian encampment on the University of Toronto campus this morning.