SEATTLE — As Israeli forces stepped up their ground offensive in Gaza, hundreds of people gathered in Seattle’s Pioneer Square neighborhood Sunday to express concern for hostages and support for the Jewish nation’s efforts to dismantle Hamas, the Palestinian group that sparked the latest conflict with attacks on Israeli settlements earlier this month.
“The Jewish people do not seek war,” said organizer Randy Kessler, of StandWithUs Northwest. But he called on participants to push back against calls for a cease-fire.
“This moment is like Israel’s 9/11, and it is not the time for Israel to be pushed into a cease-fire,” he told the crowd.
Many of the demonstrators hoisted Israeli flags or draped them around their shoulders, while others pulled on white T-shirts that read “I stand with Israel.” Organizers passed out blue ribbons to symbolize solidarity with the state of Israel.
The fate of the more than 200 people, mostly Israelis, held hostage by Hamas, was a major focus, with chants of “bring them home.”
Batsheva Stein, from Olympia, wore a sandwich board with photos of hostages, saying she wanted to draw attention to them. Thirty strollers were arrayed on the brick-paved plaza at Occidental Square, each holding a picture of a kidnapped child, some as young as 9 months.
The rally came as the war entered what Israeli officials called its “second phase,” with intensified aerial bombardment and an increased number of ground incursions. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Saturday that the conflict is “going to be long.”
Since the start of the war, Seattle-area residents from across the political spectrum have come together, many for pro-Palestinian rallies, others for solemn vigils at Jewish places of worship. For three Saturdays in a row, downtown crowds have chanted, marched and waved signs in support of freedom for Palestinians and in solidarity with the people of Gaza. The first rally, held on Oct. 14, drew more than a thousand participants who filled three city blocks. Subsequent demonstrations packed Westlake Park with both Muslim and Jewish demonstrators calling for an end to the fighting in Gaza.
Inna Dashevsky, of Seattle, carried an Israeli flag Sunday, and said she mourns over the suffering in Gaza as well as in Israel, where she grew up and where many of her family members still live. But she feels the suffering will be prolonged as long as Hamas remains in power.
Husband and wife Gary and Beryl Cohen took the bus from Newcastle to show their support at Sunday’s rally. “Every battle is existential for Israel,” Gary Cohen said.
Their son and his family, including three young children, live in Jerusalem. Beryl Cohen said the family has been sleeping in their clothes in case they hear sirens warning of possible airstrikes and have to flee to a shelter. A few days ago, a rocket struck their neighborhood with no warning.
The Cohens said they also know one of the hostages.
Shortly before noon, the crowd marched to Lumen Field, mingling with thousands of Seahawks fans waiting in lines for hot dogs and team gear and streaming into the stadium for Sunday’s game. Outside of the field, the demonstrators kept up their chant of “bring the kids home,” interspersed with Hebrew songs. Many of them didn’t leave until the game was underway.
The Sunday rally was organized by the Israeli-American Council, StandWithUs and the American Jewish Committee.
Meanwhile, the death toll in the war continues to climb. As of Sunday morning, the Gaza Ministry of Health estimates nearly 8,000 people have died in Gaza, with 20,000 people injured since Israel began bombarding the region after Hamas’ attacks on Oct. 7.
Israel’s government says more than 1,400 Israelis were killed, with another 5,400 injured, largely in rocket attacks.
The United Nations General Assembly on Friday voted overwhelmingly in favor of a cease-fire and unimpeded humanitarian aid into Gaza.
