'March for Israel' Draws Thousands in Washington, DC

People wave Israeli flags as a Shabbat dinner table is prepared with 200 empty seats, which represent the Israeli hostages and other missing people amid Israel's war with Hamas, at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 27, 2023.(Olivier Douliery / AFP via Getty Images)

A massive gathering is expected on Tuesday in Washington, D.C., as tens of thousands are set to participate in the "March for Israel." Organized by a coalition of Jewish groups, the event aims to express solidarity with Israel and condemn antisemitism. The march, scheduled from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET on the National Mall, is anticipated to draw up to 100,000 participants.

The initiative comes in the aftermath of the October 7 terror attacks in Israel by Hamas terrorists, resulting in the tragic loss of over 1,200 lives, predominantly civilians. Israel responded with a declaration of war on Hamas, conducting extensive bombings in the Gaza Strip and deploying ground forces to eradicate the terrorist group and free the remaining hostages taken during the initial attack. The conflict has led to the unfortunate loss of Palestinian civilian lives, attributed to Hamas's use of civilian infrastructure for military purposes.

Eric D. Fingerhut, President, and CEO of the Jewish Federations of North America, emphasized that the march intends to demonstrate American support for Israel, reject antisemitism, and call for the release of hostages held by Hamas. William Daroff, CEO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, stressed the importance of sending a strong message of solidarity, rejecting anti-Israel sentiment, and uniting around shared values of peace, justice, and freedom.

Authorities in Washington, D.C., including the Metropolitan Police Department, are actively working to ensure the safety and security of the event, with Mayor Muriel Bowser deploying the National Guard to assist the police. Despite previous warnings from a pro-Palestinian group about engaging with pro-Israel supporters, no credible threats against the march have been detected, according to official statements. This event follows a demonstration by pro-Palestinian groups in Washington, D.C., on November 4.