On Tuesday, a substantial gathering convened in Washington, D.C., for the March for Israel, assembling on the National Mall to express solidarity with Israel, advocate for the release of hostages, and protest the increasing antisemitism in the U.S. since the commencement of the Israel-Hamas conflict last month.

Organizers, the Jewish Federations of North America and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, initially anticipated 60,000 participants based on the permit obtained by CBS News.

However, the organizers reported a significantly higher turnout on Tuesday evening, estimating that a total of 290,000 people took part in the march.

The march’s official website described the event as “an opportunity for all Americans to come together in solidarity with the people of Israel, to demonstrate our commitment to America’s most important ally in the Middle East, to condemn the rising trend of antisemitic violence and harassment, and to demand that every hostage be immediately and safely released.”

Following the Hamas attack on October 7, the Anti-Defamation League documented 312 instances of antisemitism in the U.S. up to October 23, with 190 directly attributed to the Israel-Hamas conflict.

During this period, there was a notable 338% surge in harassment, vandalism, and/or assault compared to the same timeframe in 2022, as reported by the ADL.

Hamas, recognized by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist organization, reportedly seized around 240 individuals from Israel, including several Americans and a 3-year-old child, according to the White House.

Only four hostages have been released thus far, and ongoing negotiations, facilitated by Qatar, aim to secure the release of more.

The organizers of the D.C. march encouraged participants to share their experiences on social media using the hashtag #MarchForIsrael.

Additionally, for those unable to attend in person, a live stream of the event was made available.

Written by B.C. Begley