Pro-Israel Rally
Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) delivered a succinct message to Hamas from the rally stage: “Let them go. Bring them home.” The sentiment reverberated through the crowd, emphasizing the primary focus of the event—to highlight the October 7 Hamas attack and the over 200 hostages still in captivity.
Amid growing global pressure on Israel to cease retaliatory attacks on Gaza, the rally attendees voiced a perspective that calls for a cease-fire should be conditional upon the release of hostages. Eileen Terzi, a protestor from New York, dismissed talks of a cease-fire as “ridiculous” and insisted on prioritizing the freedom of hostages.
“Why is the onus on Israel to do anything?” Terzi questioned, emphasizing the need to emphasize the release of hostages before considering a cease-fire.
Hamas, designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S., reportedly took around 240 individuals during its incursion into Israel, resulting in over 1,200 casualties. The rally aimed to shed light on these events, urging the international community to acknowledge the human cost and demand the release of hostages.
