WASHINGTON (AP) — Supporters of Israel rallied by the tens of hundreds on the Nationwide Mall below heavy safety Tuesday, voicing solidarity within the struggle towards Hamas and crying “by no means once more.”
The “March for Israel” provided a powerful and bipartisan endorsement of one in every of America’s closest allies as criticism has intensified over Israel’s offensive in Gaza, set off by the bloody Oct. 7 Hamas incursion.
Overlooking a sea of Israeli and U.S. flags, Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer, Home Speaker Mike Johnson and the Home Democratic chief, Hakeem Jefferies, got here collectively on the stage and, with Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, joined fingers. “We stand with Israel,” Schumer chanted.
But beneath that projection of unity, Democrats are sharply divided over Israel’s course and its therapy of Palestinians. President Joe Biden now could be urging Israel to restrain a few of its ways to ease civilian suffering in Gaza after voicing full-throated solidarity with the Israelis within the conflict’s early weeks.
A succession of audio system took the stage to denounce the Hamas assault and what they mentioned was a virulent unfold of antisemitism internationally, “a humiliation to all civilized folks and nations,” within the phrases of Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who addressed the gang by video.
After “the biggest bloodbath for the reason that Holocaust,” he mentioned, “allow us to name out collectively, by no means once more.”
“Nobody will break us,” he vowed. “We’ll rise once more. … There isn’t a better and simply trigger than this.”
Ernst mentioned Hamas’ brutality can’t be overstated. “They homicide infants,” she mentioned. “They rape girls. They abuse the aged. How anybody in America might sympathize with these terrorists is unfathomable.”
Hamas militants stormed into Israel from Gaza within the surprise incursion Oct. 7, killing greater than 1,200 folks and taking greater than 200 hostages. Israel has responded with weeks of assaults in Gaza, which have killed more than 11,000 Palestinians, in line with the Hamas-run Well being Ministry.
Rachel Goldberg, mom of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was taken hostage whereas attending a music pageant attacked by Hamas, mentioned the times for the reason that assault had been “gradual movement torment.”
“These youngsters of God vary in age from 9 months to 87 years,” Goldberg mentioned of the hostages taken to Gaza. “They’re Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists and Hindu. Why are they being left underground within the dust?”
The Homeland Safety Division designated the march a “degree 1” safety occasion, the very best classification in its system and one normally used for the Tremendous Bowl and different main occasions, two regulation enforcement officers advised The Related Press. The designation means the occasion required substantial regulation enforcement help from federal businesses, the officers mentioned.
The FBI and Homeland Safety despatched a joint bulletin to regulation enforcement officers in Washington warning concerning the potential for violence or an assault impressed by the Israel-Hamas conflict, the officers mentioned. However the bulletin mentioned clearly that federal officers haven’t recognized any “particular, actionable risk” to the march, they mentioned.
The officers weren’t approved to debate particulars of the regulation enforcement bulletin publicly and spoke to The Related Press on situation of anonymity.
Most of the demonstrators on the “March for Israel” wore Israeli flags wrapped round their shoulders, flowing behind them, or held small Israeli flags of their fingers. Safety was tight, with dump vehicles blocking entry to the mall and police dispersed all through the world and on horseback.
“I hope that it exhibits solidarity” with Israel, mentioned Jackie Seley of Rockville, Maryland, who got here with pals from New York. “And I hope that it raises consciousness for the hostages which might be at present at risk.”
Melanie Lubin of Olney, Maryland, wore a flag half made up with the Stars and Stripes and half with Israel’s blue and white Star of David. Requested concerning the demise toll in Gaza and criticism of the way in which Israel has carried out its army marketing campaign, she mentioned: “I feel everybody is anxious about what is occurring in Gaza and to civilians in Israel. Israel is doing its greatest. It is a conflict. Israel didn’t begin this conflict.”
