‘US-Israel relationship encoded in our DNA,’ congressman says at DC pre-rally event

WASHINGTON — Demonstrators from across the US are now gathering on the National Mall in a show of solidarity with Israel amid its ongoing war with Hamas.

The protesters will demand the release of the 240 hostages currently held by Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip and call upon American leadership to combat a rising trend in antisemitic violence and harassment.

Although it is taking place in the US capital, attendees have come from across America, many in organized groups with their local synagogues or Jewish day schools, to partake in the protest.

Ahead of the main event that just began, tens of thousands of attendees, many draped in Israeli and American flags, converged on the protest grounds for a pre-march gathering directed at American Jewish teens. The program features speakers including US Congressman Ritchie Torres and Hollywood star Brett Gelman.

“The US-Israel relationship is not just a Democratic or Republican value, it’s not just a progressive or conservative value. It is an American value, encoded in our national DNA,” said Torres to the crowd, still growing in number.

Israeli musician Ishay Ribo is now performing onstage for an exuberant crowd, stretching down the National Mall.