Israeli President Isaac Herzog addressed tens of thousands of supporters at the “March for Israel” protest in Washington, D.C., on November 16. He called for the release of all hostages held by Hamas and emphasized the unity of the Israeli society and the Jewish people during these challenging times. Herzog’s powerful speech drew parallels to the biblical story of Moses and the demand for freedom from captivity. The rally, held at the National Mall, featured a video feed of Herzog’s speech from Jerusalem, where he emphasized the rallying cry, “let our people go.”
Currently, there are up to 238 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, with 10 believed to be Americans. However, the exact number of hostages still alive remains uncertain. National security adviser Jake Sullivan revealed that nine American citizens and one legal permanent resident (green card holder) are among the missing. Sullivan provided this information during an interview on ABC’s “This Week.”
Hamas has claimed that Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have resulted in the deaths of several hostages. The Israel Defense Forces launched a series of bombings and ground operations in response to Hamas’ infiltration into Israel on October 7. The initial terror attack led to the death of over 1,200 Israelis, predominantly civilians, and potentially hundreds were taken captive to Gaza City. Israeli officials suspect that many of the hostages are being held in the underground tunnels beneath the city.
The Gaza health ministry, which is controlled by Hamas, has claimed that over 11,000 Gazans have been killed by Israeli actions since the start of the conflict. However, the U.S. has rejected these figures, as the ministry does not differentiate between terrorists and civilians. In solidarity with Israel and opposing antisemitism, tens of thousands of people gathered in Washington, D.C., for the “March for Israel” rally. The event, organized to denounce antisemitism and call for the release of Israeli hostages, received support from the Biden administration and pro-Israel lawmakers, who were commended by Herzog for their moral clarity and bold action.
The “March for Israel” rally was a significant display of solidarity and support for Israel, with organizers expecting up to 100,000 participants. The event took place from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET at the National Mall, and Israeli President Herzog expressed his gratitude to all those attending the rally for their support on behalf of the Jewish state.
