A small group of around 50 pro-Palestinian protestors gathered outside the Scotiabank in downtown Windsor Wednesday evening.
The group is encouraging Canadians to change their banks because of Scotiabank's investment in Elbit System Ltd., an Israeli defence contractor.
"We want to be able to bank and shop in a way that we don't feel like we're being politically involved in any section. Regardless, we're humans here, and we want to speak the human language of peace, and we just don't want any affiliation politically with anything," said Rasha Zaid, lead organizer of the rally.
The group said most major Canadian banks also have affiliations with groups that support Israel. She suggested people move their money to a local credit union to send a message.
"If you want peace, speak peace the way peace is spoken. Peace is not spoken through violence. Peace is not spoken through funding weapons and crimes that are happening right now," said Zaid. "We are going to ask the crowd to take action the right way by taking an action by stopping doing business with these people."
On Wednesday, Israel and Hamas agreed to a four-day pause and exchange of hostages.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the agreement "progress."
"Thousands of families were devastated by the terrorist attacks on October 7, and this will allow many families to be reunited with their loved ones," said Trudeau.
"Rapid, sustained, and unimpeded access to humanitarian relief remains critical. Much more is needed to address the dire humanitarian situation and urgent needs of innocent Palestinian civilians in Gaza. Civilians must be able to get the life-saving assistance they need, including food, water, fuel, and emergency medical supplies quickly," Trudeau continued in his statement.
Zaid said the agreement is not progress but a pause on future deaths.
"This pause is good for the people to have a break, but it's not good in the sense that it's still not going to stop. It's a pause. It's a clear statement of them just taking a break, but they're not stopping. We want them to stop," said Zaid.
WindsorNewsToday.ca has reached out to Scotiabank for comment but had not heard back Wednesday evening.