WASHINGTON – Tens of thousands of people gathered on Tuesday, holding signs and waving flags for a rally at the National Mall in Washington to support Israel as the Israel-Hamas war continues.
The rally brought together groups from all over the country, including South Florida, to show solidarity to support for Israel, demand freedom for hostages and defeat antisemitism.
“It is critically important for us to be able to stand together with like-minded people, Jewish and non-Jewish from around the country to say that it is not ok what’s happening in Israel and with the hostages and the level of antisemitism that has increased in this country since the October 7th attack are astonishing and it’s scary,” said Audra Berg, traveled from Davie.
200 people with the Broward County Jewish Federation were also in Washington to participate.
“After October 7th that illusion was shattered that Jews are no longer safe and we are seeing antisemitism everywhere we are. I’m the grand child of Holocaust survivors and my Jewish identity has always been the most important thing to me and my family, my young children,” said David Silver, Broward County Jewish Federation.
The rally comes after a pro-Palestinian march in the nation’s capital to demand a cease fire. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that will not happen until more than 200 hostages are released.
The Jewish Federations of North America and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations organized the march, dubbed “March for Israel,” which is believed to have had about 100,000 people in attendance.