Toronto police arrested six people at Sunday’s Walk With Israel, five of them protesters and one a participant at the event. Charges include assault, breach of the peace, and obstruction.
Though protesters were assigned a designated protest space at the Bathurst St. and Shepperd Ave. intersection, a small group of protesters left this area and walked to the entrance of Earl Bales Park.
According to a media release shared by Toronto Police Service on June 8, John Eusebio, 35, “along with a group of protestors, left the designated protest area” and walked to the entrance of Earl Bales Park. After Toronto police directed Eusebio to clear the walk route, he refused, ending in a verbal altercation with police and spitting on an officer. He has been charged with assaulting a peace officer.
Ghada Hamouda, 60, and Diana Bosco, 39, were charged with obstructing a peace officer, after they left the designated protest area, and according to police “refused to comply with multiple lawful directions from officers on scene.”
Another woman was arrested for breach of the peace but later released, and a man was investigated and issued a ticket for operating a drone.
One Walk participant, Ali Reza Hojjati, 40, was arrested and charged with assault. Toronto police allege that he “became involved in a verbal argument with a protester” and spat at the protester and their sign.
At a press conference on June 5, police announced an “enhanced security” plan for the Walk, with officers from across the Greater Toronto Area and the Ontario police on foot, bicycle, and horseback. The amplified presence was clear as 60,000 people walked from Temple Sinai to the festival at the Prosserman JCC, just north of Bathurst and Sheppard.
Even with the record turnout, the Walk fell short of its $780,000 fundraising goal, and according to UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, took in just $650,000. This is considerably less than the $1.4 million raised in 2025.
Despite raising less than the target goal, UJA considers the event a success.
“This year’s Walk With Israel was a remarkable demonstration of the strength, resilience, and unity of our community,” said Ken Tanenbaum, chair of UJA Federation of Greater Toronto’s board of directors. “Today sent a clear message: we stand together with pride, strength and determination. We are grateful to be joined by so many friends and allies; this turnout speaks to the deep connection our community feels to Israel and to one another.”