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Police push a protester back as the rally blocks the street leading to the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries annual defence industry trade show CANSEC, in Ottawa, on May 28, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) has deployed crowd control units and arrested anti-war and pro-Palestine protesters who were blocking a road leading to the city’s airport and a defence trade show.
Police said 11 arrests were made on May 28, with charges of mischief and assaulting police officers.
“Public Order Units have cleared demonstrators from the roadway after the Police Liaison Team made numerous attempts to have the protestors cooperate,” the OPS said on social media. Police added that no injuries were reported and that the roadway remained closed for the ongoing operation.
Protesters had gathered in the south of Ottawa near EY Centre, which is hosting the CANSEC military show for defence industry representatives. Defence Minister David McGuinty delivered a keynote address at the start of the conference on May 28.
Anti-war advocacy group World Beyond War Canada said on the morning of May 28 that hundreds of protesters had “shut down” CANSEC.
“We’ve fully blocked the road access and are also disrupting attendees at pedestrian entrances as they try to enter Canada’s biggest arms fair early this morning. The companies arming genocide are here but they can’t get in!” the group said on social media.
A video posted by the group shows protesters on the roadway carrying signs such as “Sanction Israel Now” and “Stop Arming Israel.” Another sign said “Stop the bombings in the Philippines.” Many protesters were donning keffiyeh scarves associated with the pro-Palestine and anti-Israel movement.
Videos posted on social media show police in riot gear pushing the protesters off the road and what appeared to be scuffles breaking out between police and protesters.
Protests by pro-Palestine activists have been occurring regularly in Canada and elsewhere since Oct. 7. 2023, when listed terrorist group Hamas conducted a raid inside Israel, which was followed by ongoing Israeli military retaliation.
Along with protests, there has been a sharp rise in anti-Semitic incidents, including multiple arsons and shootings targeting Jewish institutions.
Israel upgraded its threat warning for its citizens travelling to Canada earlier this week, warning of potential attacks against Jews. It came on May 25, the same day of the Walk With Israel rally, and a few days after two staffers from the Israeli embassy were shot dead in Washington, D.C., by a gunman who yelled “Free Palestine” during his arrest.
The Liberal government has criticized Israel in recent weeks, with Prime Minister Mark Carney issuing a joint statement with the leaders of France and the United Kingdom. The countries accused Israel of escalating its military operations and restricting humanitarian aid to Gaza, and threatened unspecified actions.
“If Israel does not cease the renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid, we will take further concrete actions in response,” wrote the leaders.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded, saying that by asking Israel to stop its “defensive war” against Hamas terrorists at the border, Ottawa, London, and Paris are in effect “offering a huge prize” to Hamas for the “genocidal attack on Israel on October 7 while inviting more such atrocities.”
Netanyahu also said Israel has provided 92,000 aid trucks to Gaza, which he said Hamas has been stealing and reselling to Palestinians. Netanyahu said to stop this issue, a plan was devised to instead have American companies distribute humanitarian in safe zones secured by the Israeli military.
