WASHINGTON, DC — Nearly 300,000 people descended on the National Mall in Washington, DC, on Tuesday to defend the Israeli war against Hamas — staging what was described as “the largest pro-Israel gathering in history.’’
“We are here to show the world that we won’t be exterminated again,” said Marco Abbou, a 57-year-old personal trainer from Hackensack, NJ, who is originally from Israel.
Many in the massive “March for Israel” crowd draped themselves in Israeli flags or held smaller versions as they listened to a stream of politicians and Hollywood types voice support for the Jewish state.
Ultra-tight security measures included a fleet of snow plows blocking non-pedestrian access to the mall and an army of cops patrolling the area on foot and horseback.
Tens of thousands of people were expected at the event — but the number swelled to an estimated 290,000, according to Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations CEO William Daroff. “This is the largest pro-Israel gathering in history,” Daroff said. “There are also 250,000 watching on livestream and on C-SPAN right now.’’
Orna Neutra, the mother of Omer Neutra, an Israeli soldier from Long Island who was taken hostage during Hamas’s heinous Oct. 7 attack on Israel, took the podium and announced simply, “I’m Omer’s mom.”
She told the thousands of demonstrators that Omer was born one month after 9/11 and turned 22 just weeks ago while kidnapped.
“He was protecting people when he was taken by Hamas,” she said. “Since then, our lives have turned upside down.”
The crowd broke out chanting “Bring them home! Bring them home!”
The throngs of marchers included Linda Szych, 60, and Laura Cohen, 72, who got on a bus in Clinton Township, NJ, at 6 a.m. Tuesday to make the rally.
“We’ve got terrorists everywhere, and they’re here too, and if Jews don’t stand together, they’ll get wiped out,’’ Szych told The Post.
“This is like another Holocaust, and a lot of people would love that,’’ she said.
Cohen added, “The hate is horrifying.”
DC cops were forced to guard about 100 Haredi Jews with the ultra-Orthodox anti-Zionist group Neturei Karta as the fringe group incited the marchers during the afternoon.
When a scuffle broke out between both sides, cops grabbed their bicycles to form a barrier between the Jews entering the rally and the counter-protesters gathered outside the march’s perimeter.
David Jacob, 67, of Great Neck, LI, said the irony of the side showdown was that Palestinian Hamas terrorists would slit the throats of members of the sect if given the chance.
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“Their view is we shouldn’t have the state of Israel until the Messiah comes,’’ he said of the far-right protesters. “That‘s their view but that shouldn’t mean Jews should be wiped off the face of the Earth.’’
The Democratic Socialists of America joined opponents of the rally, seething in a tweet, “Today’s Pro-Genocide March in DC is a sad attempt to match the energy of millions who have marched, protested, phone-banked, and engaged in direct action to demand a Ceasefire and fight for a Free Palestine.”
It included in the posting a mock-up of figures labeled such things as “Christian Nationalists,” “Corporate Democrats” — and “Hitler Apologist.’’
The group told The Post that the “Hitler Apologist’’ referred to John Hagee, a controversial conservative preacher who once said Hurricane Katrina was God’s retribution for gay people and that God “sent Adolf Hitler to help Jews reach the promised land.”
Hagee spoke at the event.
Actress Debra Messing also took the stage, telling the throngs, “I know you are in pain.
“I know you are afraid. I know you feel misunderstood and maligned. I know because I do, too,’’ she said.
“We see clearly now,” said the “Will & Grace’’ TV star, speaking about “pro-Palestine” protests. “We see naked hatred being called as a cry for liberation, and we reject it.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and the House Democratic leader Hakeem Jefferies of New York City also spoke.
Schumer promised the families of kidnapped Israelis that “we will not rest until you get the assistance you need.”
Some marchers urged Biden to remain committed to Israel’s cause during the war, including its targeting of hospitals used as terror nests by Hamas.
“I’ve come to encourage our politicians to not weaken in their support for Israel, which I think is coming unfortunately,’’ said David Jacob, who was in Israel last week and traveled from Long Island for the march.
“Let Israel finish, eliminate Hamas,’’ he said.
“Biden has to say ‘be careful of the hospitals,’ and he should tell [Israel] to be cautious of innocent lives. But Israel is being careful … the terrorists are shooting from the hospitals.”
With Post wires
