Updated: Sat Jan. 03 2009 6:17:10 PM

ctvtoronto.ca

Thousands of Palestinian supporters took to the streets in Toronto Saturday to protest Israel's week-long attack on Gaza and to urge the Canadian government to speak up against the increasing violence in the region.

A large police presence was at the scene all morning and blocked roads in the area to facilitate the protest.

The rally began at Yonge-Dundas Square in the city's downtown core at around 1 p.m.. The group of about four thousand people then made their way north on Yonge Street towards Bloor Street where the Israeli consulate is located.

"Shame, shame Israel," the protesters chanted. "Shame, shame America."

They then made their way to the U.S. consulate on University Avenue at around 4 p.m.

A smaller group of people, organized by the Jewish Defense League, were also at the rally, waving Israeli flags and voicing their support for Israel.

"I want them to have their own country. I want them to have democracy," said Ravid Dahan, a 28-year-old who moved to Canada from Israel two years ago. "I want my children to go to school with their children. But they don't believe I exist!"

Police kept the groups apart on separate sides of the street and authorities said so far, it has been a non-violent protest despite the boisterous, emotional crowd. Loud, angry chants could be heard from both groups.

"If they lay down their rockets, there will be no more deaths," said Jill Aharon, a resident of Thornhill who came out in support of Israel.

"They are hitting mosques and they are hitting innocent people," said one Palestinian supporter.

Similar protests were held across Canada and around the world as Israeli ground troops entered the Gaza Strip Saturday to continue their offensive against Hamas targets.

The conflict began on Dec. 27, with Israel saying it would no longer tolerate rocket attacks from Hamas on its border towns -- attacks that had intensified after the end of a truce agreement.

Leading up to the ground invasion, Israel dropped leaflets in downtown Gaza City to warn people to stay off the streets.

The air strikes have killed more than 400 Palestinians, and 25 per cent of them may have been civilians, according to the UN. Four Israelis have also been killed by rocket attacks.

The Toronto protest was organized by the Palestine House and was advertised on several Facebook groups online.

With files from The Canadian Press and a report from CTV Toronto's John Musselman