Thousands of people marched through New York in support of Israel on Sunday, marking 77 years since its independence on 14 May 1948.
The dozens of ambassadors to the United Nations, who marched alongside released hostages and their families, injured soldiers, and other supporters of the Jewish state, sent “a clear message,” said Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the UN. “The people of Israel are not alone.”
“We are in pain. We are thinking about the hostages,” Danon said. “But we know that we will prevail. We will win this war. We will bring back all the hostages.”
The Israeli mission to the UN said tens of thousands of people attended the march in Manhattan on Sunday. Mayor Eric Adams, Governor Kathy Hochul and Ofir Akunis, the Israeli consul general in New York, took part.
“The Israel Parade, with its tens of thousands of participants, is a clear expression of the enormous support from all Jewish communities and a very large segment of the American public for our country,” Akunis said. “It is also the definitive response to all the terror supporters in the city.”
“While they burn the flags of the United States and Israel, we proudly wave them,” Akunis said. “They are losing. We are winning.”
Adams tweeted: “So great to, once again, march side-by-side with our Jewish community at the Israeli Day Parade in Manhattan! This event is more than just celebrating the bond between our city and Israel, it’s about sending a strong message: hate and antisemitism have no place in our city.”
Mike Lawler, a congressman from New York, wrote that he was proud to stand with Israel at the parade. Jessica Tisch, the New York City Police Department commissioner, wrote that she was “honoured to march with the NYPD Shomrim Society,” which is made up of Jewish officers.
