Thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators move through downtown Toronto streets

Thousands of people marched through the streets of downtown Toronto Saturday afternoon for a pro-Palestinian demonstration.

It was organized by a group called Toronto for Palestine and began at Nathan Phillips Square. Among the attendees were part of a vehicle rally that departed from Scarborough Town Centre at around 12:45 p.m.

The rally moved west along Highway 401 before turning south on the Don Valley Parkway and arriving at the square, joining others in calling for an end to the ongoing violence in the Gaza Strip.

"This is a humanitarian crisis. We are asking for a ceasefire now. We are demanding a ceasefire now," said Mona Ayesh, who has family living in Gaza.

The rally was held as Israel opened a "second stage" in the war against Hamas -- which has entered its third week -- sending ground forces into Gaza and expanding attacks from the ground, air and sea. Thousands have been killed since the war broke out on Oct. 7 when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel.

"We're coming here together to call for peace," Nader Hallak said. He, too, has family and friends living in Gaza.

The crowd later moved out of Nathan Phillips Square and took the demonstration into the streets. While Toronto police said it cannot provide a definitive number on attendance, it told CP24 it is "safe to say" the number is in the thousands.

Saturday's demonstration was just one of the several expected to be held this weekend.

READ MORE: Toronto police to increase presence as 'large-scale' demonstrations expected this weekend

On Friday, Deputy Chief Lauren Pogue of the Community Safety Command said in a press conference that the Toronto Police Service is aware of both pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel demonstrations occurring in the city on Saturday and Sunday.

Residents can expect an increased police presence in the city for the duration of the weekend, she said.

- with files from Mike Walker and The Associated Press