Thousands of members of the Jewish community in Toronto marched along one of the city's main arteries on Sunday as part of an annual pro-Israel event that took place amid tight security and protests along the way.

Toronto police said on X "that they arrested six people during the march" and stated in an email that "they cannot comment on the reasons that led to the arrests or whether the detainees were connected to a specific group."

The United Jewish Appeal organized its annual "Walk with Israel" campaign, which involves a five-kilometer walk and a festival at the northern end of the city.

The march participants, who were expected to take part in record numbers, waved Israeli flags and carried posters of hostages who were taken captive during the October 7 attack by Hamas that led to the outbreak of the recent war with Israel.

UJA estimated that 50,000 people participated, but Toronto police said they would not have an official estimate until the event was fully concluded later on Sunday.

The march was accompanied by a strong police and private security presence, with a large portion of Bathurst Street closed off for the event. Protesters faced two groups of demonstrators during the first hour of the march, with police using buses to block the protesters' view of the event.

Chants of "Free, free Palestine" and "Bring them home" echoed as paths crossed at the corner of Bathurst Street and Sheppard Avenue, leading to some heated exchanges. Police officers formed barriers between the two groups and intervened in the confrontations.

Many pro-Palestinian demonstrators who confronted them along the march route declined to comment. Their signs and chants expressed their opposition to the massive Israeli assault on Gaza since October 7.

Among those present was the family of the hostages.

Noah Shaq, from United Jewish Appeal Greater Toronto, said the size of the security measures surrounding the event was "a sad testament to what our city has come to now."

In an interview before the march started, he said there had been "an explosion of hatred" directed at the Jewish community in Toronto since the beginning of the recent war and that the event was a display of support and resilience.

Among the attendees at "Walk with Israel" were also some individuals whose family members were taken hostage by Hamas.

Avichai Brodosch, whose wife and three children were released from captivity in November, said, "It's really important for us to come to Toronto and meet the community and tell our story to the people of Canada."

Brodosch, whose brother lives in Toronto, said, "I feel at home here and see everyone coming and showing their support."

He added, "The community is also celebrating the rescue of four Israeli hostages from Gaza on Saturday."

The Gaza Health Ministry said on Sunday that at least 274 Palestinians, including dozens of children, were killed during the rescue operation.

Mayaan Shavit, a Toronto resident, said her cousin is still being held hostage by Hamas, "We have known from the beginning that she is being held underground," adding that her family hopes for a "miracle."

Shavit said she wants the world to understand "that humans are not for trade," "Do not trade people... They are not soldiers, they are civilians."

Several groups representing Jews who oppose Israeli actions in Gaza urged community members to sit with students at a pro-Palestinian camp on the University of Toronto campus on Sunday.

Jonathan Brown Gilbert, a graduate student at the University of Toronto, said in an email statement one day before the march, "For an increasing number of Jews here in Canada, witnessing the ongoing blockade and assault on Gaza fills us with horror and sadness at what is happening in our name."