Tens of thousands gathered on the National Mall in Washington for a rally on Tuesday, expressing support for Israel and condemning anti-Semitism. This event served as a counterpoint to the pro-Palestinian demonstrations that have dominated the American landscape in recent weeks.
The rally drew a diverse crowd, with participants, including senior members of Congress, donning the white and blue colors of Israel. Many waved placards calling for the release of hostages taken during a surprise attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on October 7. Israeli authorities claim the attack resulted in over 1,200 casualties.
The subsequent Israeli response, characterized by relentless attacks on the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, has sparked controversy in the United States. Officials in Gaza report over 11,300 casualties, including thousands of children. Families directly affected spoke out at the rally, with Rachel Goldberg, the mother of one of the hostages, describing the families’ pain as “third-degree burns on our souls.”
Mark Moore, a Christian pastor from Chicago, expressed his belief in Israel as the “only bastion of freedom” in the Middle East. He prayed for peace achieved through victory, aiming to break the cycle of violence that has gripped the region.
Organized by the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, the demonstration, dubbed the March for Israel, centered on combating anti-Semitism and calling for the release of hostages. Israeli President Isaac Herzog, addressing the crowd via video link from Jerusalem, asserted that they were “marching for the right of every Jew to live proudly and safely in Israel and the US and the world.”
Political leaders, including US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Mike Johnson, addressed the crowd, expressing solidarity and acknowledging the pain felt by the families. Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in the United States, declared, “America feels your pain.”
Security was tight, reflective of the heightened tensions surrounding the event. Police deployed snowplows as temporary roadblocks, and protesters’ bags underwent thorough searches before entering the area. In contrast to previous pro-Palestinian demonstrations, this rally directed its anger towards Hamas, with signs declaring “Annihilate Hamas” and “From the river to the sea, we support democracy.”
This event follows multiple large protests across the country and around the world calling for a ceasefire and criticizing Israeli military actions. The contrasting narratives and sentiments displayed in these rallies underscore the deep divisions and complexities surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, even within the United States.
