Tens of Thousands Gather in Washington for “March for Israel”
On Tuesday, tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered in Washington for a “March for Israel” to show solidarity with Israel in its war with Hamas and condemn rising antisemitism. Streets were closed around much of downtown amid heightened security, as people gathered on the National Mall, many draped in Israeli and U.S. flags.
The demonstrators gathered to show unity in support of Israel following violent attacks by the Palestinian militant group Hamas and to denounce the rise in antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents in the United States.
“We are here to show the world that we won’t be exterminated again,” said Marco Abbou, a personal trainer hailing from Israel.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas has led to protests and public demonstrations across the globe. Since gunmen from Hamas attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and taking hostages, Israel responded with a strict blockade on Gaza, an aerial bombardment, and a ground offensive.
The conflict has also sparked a rise in violence and harassment targeting Jewish and Muslim communities in the United States, according to advocacy groups.
Demonstrators who attended Tuesday’s rally held up signs showing the names and photographs of people kidnapped by Hamas and chanted “bring them home”. Natan Sharansky, a former Soviet dissident and chairman of the executive of the Jewish Agency for Israel, called for the crowd to fight for Israel.
The Biden administration has rebuffed calls for a ceasefire but has urged Israel to grant pauses in the fighting for civilians to move to safer locations and for humanitarian aid to enter Gaza.
The largest demonstration in Washington so far related to the conflict on Nov. 4 garnered thousands who called for the U.S. government, Israel’s main backer, to call for a ceasefire.
“Hamas’s goal was to scare us. Those perpetrating the poison of antisemitism and bigotry around the world are trying to scare us,” said Senator Charles Schumer, the Senate’s Democratic majority leader and the highest-ranking Jewish elected U.S. official. “But we will not allow history to slide back to the days of the Holocaust when Jews were targeted and murdered and butchered.”
While the demonstration saw a strong Israeli presence, a small counter-demonstration outside the main crowd enclosure included several dozen Orthodox Jews from the anti-Zionist group Neturei Karta chanting “1, 2, 3, 4, Zionism no more,” and “down, down the state of Israel.”
The recent rally in Washington reflects an enduring commitment to supporting Israel and addressing the rise in antisemitic violence and hate incidents. The protesters’ advocacy for Israel and condemnation of antisemitism resonates widely, and many hope for peace and security for Israel and its people.