Thousands gather on National Mall for March for Israel

Thousands of demonstrators descended onto theNational Mall in the nation's capital on Tuesday toexpress their support for Israel amid its war on Hamas,and to condemn antisemitism that has spiked amid the conflict.

D.C. officials ramped up security ahead of the rally,with multiple reports saying that up to 100,000 peoplewere expected to be in attendance at the March forIsrael. The event is scheduled from 1 to 3 p.m. on theNational Mall.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) andHouse Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) were among the featured speakers.

During his comments, Johnson denounced calls for aceasefire in the war, which has been the focus ofpro-Palestinian protestors who have rallied in DC inrecent weeks.

"The calls for a ceasefire are outrageous," he said,before the crowd then erupted in chants of "no ceasefire."

"We stand with you in that Hamas terrorists waged the bloodiest assault on Jewish lives since the Holocaustand there are hundreds of hostages, many of themAmericans still stuck inside Gaza," he continued.

"Israel will cease their counter offensive when Hamasceases to be a threat to the Jewish state."

Actress Tovah Feldshuh opened the rally bycondemning the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas that killed anestimated 1,200 people in Israel, saying "to lose a lifeis to lose a universe."