Thousands of members of Toronto's 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 "Walk with Israel," which involves a five-kilometre walk and a festival in the city's north end. Marchers encountered two groups of protesters within the first hour of the walk, with police using buses to obstruct demonstrators' view of the event. In an interview before the march began, he said there's been "an explosion of hate" directed at Toronto's Jewish community since the start of the latest war and the event was a show of support and resilience. "Walk with Israel" attendees also included some people whose family members were taken hostage by Hamas.