On the morning of Thursday, Dec. 14, footage posted to a pro-Hamas social media account on Instagram bragged about several dozen of activists, who were part of far-left political groups, blockading the intersection in front of Export Development Canada Canada in downtown Ottawa, claiming the Crown corporation facilitates arms trade with Israel and supports the Canada Israel Free Trade Agreement.

BREAKING: Far left anti-Israel protesters are blocking a major intersection of downtown Ottawa.

You can see several city busses stopped and police watching from the sidelines.https://t.co/cIlPZDLUTt pic.twitter.com/06N6MSZpnj

— Efrain Flores Monsanto 🇨🇦🚛 (@realmonsanto) December 14, 2023

“OUR TAXES FUND GENOCIDE” reads one of the signs held by a protester.

In the video, protesters laid down mock body bags in the middle of the intersection as they stood side-by-side on the outskirts of the intersection, facing commuters who are stuck watching the demonstration. Several city buses are seen stopped along with a full street of trapped citizens.

All of a sudden "Ottawa" is fine with this... https://t.co/lJiesp00Ok

— Rex Glacer (@rexglacer) December 14, 2023

The majority of protesters seemingly are hiding their identity with facemasks and other coverings to avoid being identified by law enforcement and the public.

The far-left groups who participated included Labour for Palestine and Independent Jewish Voices Ottawa along with other local anti-Israel groups.

PM Trudeau, jointly along with the PMs of Australia and New Zealand, is calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Canada is committed to working with partners "towards an enduring two-state solution," Trudeau says.https://t.co/0UqW9NyyCP pic.twitter.com/eLxGYAQIqh

— Rebel News (@RebelNewsOnline) December 12, 2023

This comes just days after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau released a joint statement alongside the prime ministers of New Zealand and Australia calling for an immediate ceasefire, as Israel is fighting to free the remaining hostages taken by Hamas in during the Oct. 7 terrorist massacre.

Shortly before 9 a.m., Ottawa police provided an update stating the intersection had reopened. No arrests or charges against the demonstrators were mentioned.

The roads have reopened. #OttTraffic #OttNews @DutyInspector
~
Les routes sont rouvertes.#OttNouvelles https://t.co/nDCS38VQYI pic.twitter.com/9bY41yl2se

— Ottawa Police (@OttawaPolice) December 14, 2023