Celebrities who attended March for Israel

Several big names were in attendance at a rally in support of Israel in Washington, DC, on Tuesday.

Beginning at 1 p.m. on The Mall in the nation’s capital, the “March for Israel” was organized by the Jewish Federations of North America, who said 290,000 people attended.

The protest was organized to call for the release of hostages kidnapped by Hamas and taken to Gaza during the group’s surprise attack on Israel on October 7. The military arm of the Palestinian group stormed Israel, killing more than 1,200 and taking more than 200 hostages, according to latest figures from the Associated Press (AP).

Israel retaliated with an ongoing air raid and ground force campaign on Gaza. Since October 7, more than 11,200 people have been killed in Gaza and a further 2,700 reported missing, as per AP.

Thousands of people packed into the Mall, with many holding up posters of individuals still being held hostage by Hamas.

Many celebrities were also in attendance, some giving speeches to the massive crowd and arguing there could be no ceasefire until the hostages were released.

Debra Messing

The Will & Grace star described the war between Israel and Hamas as “madness.”

“This is terrorism,” she said. “But we will win. We always have.”

Messing added “we will work to eviscerate Hamas,” and hoped for a “free Gaza.”

“We will pray for the success of the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) for a war Israel did not start… but a war Israel will win,” Messing said.

She added: “I know you are alone, I know you are afraid, I know you feel abandoned by people you thought were friends. Looking out today I know we are not alone, because we have each other.”

Michael Rapaport

The actor gave an impassioned speech and told young people in the audience to continue being “disruptive.”

“38 days ago Israel was attacked. We know what happened. The hostages must come home. Free every single one of them,” he said.

“There cannot be a ceasefire until the hostages are home. I have never felt this prideful to be Jewish in my life. It’s been a crazy time. But Jewish people around the world, we have seen it all.”

Van Jones

The CNN host drew a mixed response from the crowd after saying he was a “peace guy” and called for the bombing of Gaza to stop. This led to the crowd chanting, “no ceasefire,” in response.

“If you’re not Jewish, you may not know this, but since October 7, there’s been literally an explosion of violence against Jewish people, attacks against Jewish people, horrific acts of hatred against Jewish people,” he said.

“I don’t want to be silent because the Jewish community stood with the civil rights movement.”

Jones continued: “Whatever our different political beliefs and views are about what’s happening overseas, you do not have to support all the policies of Israel to support and love and stand with all the people of Israel during this time, and that’s why I’m here.

“My heart breaks for all the Israeli children. My heart breaks for all the Palestinian children and my heart breaks for all the Jewish-American children who are now also living in fear. I pray that every single hostage is released,” he says to cheers. “I also pray that Hamas ends its reign of terror.”

But the crowd seemed to turn on him when he said: “I pray for peace. No more rockets from Gaza and no more bombs falling down on the people of Gaza.”

Van Jones at the March for Israel: “I’m a peace guy, I pray for peace. No more rockets from Gaza, and no more bombs falling down on the people of Gaza.”

The crowd breaks out into a “NO CEASEFIRE” chant shortly after pic.twitter.com/2gHEXicK9b

— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) November 14, 2023

John Fetterman

Senator John Fetterman has faced backlash for his support of Israel since October 7, but showed up to the Mall regardless.

“Of course I’m here, how could I not?” the Democratic senator reportedly told attendees.

Tovah Feldshuh

The Broadway star and Israel Peace Medal recipient explained how she refused to change her Hebrew name to a so-called more palatable Western name in order to have a more successful career.

“My name is Tovah Feldshuh,” she told the crowd. “My Hebrew name is Tovah Feldshuh. My stage name is Tovah Feldshuh.”

“We stand here in the tens of thousands, and usually even if you have 10 Jews you have 10,000 opinions. But today, we stand in the thousands to say Am Yisrael chai, ‘the people of Israel live.'”

She added: “We are now engaged in a battle reaching beyond any Arab-Israeli conflict. We are engaged in a battle fighting for a civilized world. We stand here knowing that the halls of our universities should be havens of enlightenment and moral clarity, and not places where Jewish students, Jewish faculty or any minority feels outcast and afraid of being physically abused.”

Ritchie Torres

The New York Congressman was one of many politicians in attendance and gave a speech on stage.

“I want to be crystal clear: a ceasefire with a terrorist organization is not a peace agreement. It’s a death sentence for Israelis,” said the Democratic Representative. “Everyone who wants Israel to cease to exist is calling for a ceasefire. Our answer to them is ‘No’.”

“It cannot be unpunished. Hamas must be brought to justice,” he said. “Israel has a right to defend itself, and America has a duty to stand with Israel in her struggle for survival and self-defense.”

HIH Princess Yasmine Pahlavi

The Iranian royal attended the march and was seen carrying an Israeli flag and the previous national flag of Iran, which was changed after the 1979 Islamic revolution.

She is married to Reza Pahlavi, the exiled Crown Prince and son of the Iran’s last Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

Other celebrities in attendance included Stranger Things actor Brett Gelman and Chuck Schumer. Israeli singer Omer Adam sang his country’s national anthem to wrap up the event.