Tens of thousands of people gathered in Washington on Tuesday for a “March for Israel” to express solidarity with Israel in its conflict with Hamas and denounce the rise in antisemitism. The event took place under heightened security, with streets closed off in downtown. Attendees, many of whom were draped in Israeli and U.S. flags, gathered on the National Mall under bright sunshine. Marco Abbou, a 57-year-old personal trainer from Hackensack, New Jersey, originally from Israel, stated, “We are here to show the world that we won’t be exterminated again.”
The conflict between Israel and Hamas has sparked protests and public demonstrations worldwide. On October 7, gunmen from Hamas killed 1,200 people in southern Israel, taking approximately 240 hostages back to Gaza. Israel responded with a strict blockade on Gaza and launched an aerial bombardment and ground offensive, resulting in over 11,000 deaths, according to Palestinian authorities, with around 40% of them being children.
The escalation of the conflict has also led to a rise in antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents in the United States, including violent assaults and online harassment. Advocacy groups have reported an increase in these incidents. The organizers of the demonstration estimated that 200,000 people attended the event to show support for Israel, demand the release of hostages, and condemn antisemitic violence and harassment.
Protesters in the crowd held signs bearing the names and photographs of individuals kidnapped by Hamas, chanting “bring them home.” Other placards expressed sentiments such as “We have nowhere else to go” and “civilians who praise the slaughter of Jews are not innocent.” Natan Sharansky, former Soviet dissident and chairman of the executive of the Jewish Agency for Israel, called on the crowd to fight for Israel, stating, “We’ll fight against those who try to give legitimacy to Hamas. We will fight for Israel. We’ll fight for every Jew. We will fight against antisemitism.”
The largest demonstration in Washington related to the conflict occurred on November 4, drawing thousands who called for a ceasefire. However, Ariel Ben-Chitrit, a federal government worker from Herndon, Virginia, stated that a ceasefire would only allow Hamas to rearm. He expressed regret for the suffering of Palestinian civilians and the dire conditions in Gaza hospitals but believed that the conflict could only end by eliminating Hamas. “Hamas has proven they are not interested in peace,” he said.
While the Biden administration has not called for a ceasefire, they have urged Israel to provide pauses in the fighting to allow civilians to seek safety and humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. The demonstration in Washington was attended by senators and members of the House of Representatives, highlighting the support for Israel in the U.S. Congress. Senator Charles Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish elected U.S. official, rescheduled his press conference to attend the rally, emphasizing the importance of standing against antisemitism and bigotry.
Authorities increased the police presence for the demonstration as a precaution, although there were no specific threats. The rally attracted a diverse crowd, including Orthodox Jews, children, and self-described “progressive liberals.” Erica Taxin, a 56-year-old yoga studio owner from Philadelphia, disagreed with other progressives calling for a ceasefire, stating that the militants had not only taken hostages but also killed children and peace advocates.
In a video address, Israel’s President Isaac Herzog stated that outbreaks of antisemitism anywhere were a disgrace to civilization. He emphasized the need for the safety of Jews in America and around the world. The only counter-demonstration observed was by a small group of Orthodox Jews from the anti-Zionist group Neturei Karta, who chanted slogans against Zionism and the state of Israel.
