Pro-Palestinian protesters clash with police at defense conference in Canada

TRENTON, Canada

About 100 pro-Palestinian demonstrators in Canada encircled a building Tuesday at the site of a military conference, demanding an end to arms shipments to Israel and other countries.

An estimated 25 police vehicles arrived before the conference was slated to begin.

Police wrestled some of the protesters to the ground.

The conference in London, Ontario, located west of Toronto, was advertised as a chance to establish links or enhance partnerships, with the Canadian government calling for contracts for military equipment.

“We are here to demand an arms embargo on Israel ... and it’s just unacceptable for these companies, these military programs and these government (representatives) to think that they can continue to sell and profit from war crimes,” one protester said in a social media post, first reported by the Canadian Press.

In another post, another protester said the demonstration aimed to “condemn the big manufacturing companies that have been complicit in the genocide in Gaza.”

Protesters said they were also demonstrating against the Canadian government’s plans to increase military spending.

A police officer who was on the scene said one person was arrested for property destruction.

The Best Defence Conference was organized by General Dynamics, Deltek, Elbit Systems and Nortack Defence.