The Toronto police chief apologized on Sunday after politicians criticized a video posted on social media showing officers distributing coffee to pro-Palestinian protesters.

Police closed the bridge on Avenue Road on Highway 401 on Saturday, saying on social media that they were at the scene to maintain the safety of protesters and traffic. A video from the bridge posted by the community organization "Bayt Palestine" on Facebook shows protesters holding Palestinian flags and chanting "Free Palestine."

A separate video, posted on social media on Saturday by a user named Karima Saad, shows police officers carrying a box of coffee and cups to people standing on the bridge.

Marco Mendicino, the Member of Parliament for Eglinton—Lawrence in Toronto and former federal Minister of Public Safety, criticized this move by the Toronto police.

Mendicino said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that police providing coffee and food to protesters will only encourage more deliberate traffic disruptions, undermine public safety, and increase local frustrations. Laws exist to prevent this. They need to be enforced!

Anthony Housefather, another MP representing Mount Royal riding in Quebec, also described this move as a very bad decision.

Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw apologized in a statement for the concern and confusion caused by a specific interaction between officers and someone.

Demkiw did not specify the nature of this interaction, but a police spokesperson confirmed to CBC Toronto that the chief's statement was related to the coffee video.

The spokesperson said the officers performed this helpful act hoping to keep tensions low and that it should not be interpreted as the police showing support for any cause or group.

Meanwhile, Demkiw said in his statement that he held leadership meetings to review the day's events.

Let me be clear and unequivocal: our commitment to maintaining the safety of the Jewish community in our city is unwavering. He wrote: "We are doing everything we can at the targeted protest sites to support the law and its enforcement."

The bridge march comes in the wake of a series of protests in Toronto related to the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, sparked by Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel which left about 1,200 dead, according to Israeli officials. More than 100 hostages are believed to still be held by Hamas.

Israel responded with an attack that has so far killed 22,835 Palestinians in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run Ministry of Health in Gaza.

The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, which advocates for Jewish federations in Canada, also said on social media that the bridge is not a typical protest site.

The post stated that it is an overpass in the heart of a residential neighborhood, home to many Jewish families.