A coalition of Christians, Jews, and individuals of other faiths will gather at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Monday to remember the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attacks on Israel and to unite in support of the world’s only Jewish state. The “Remembering Oct. 7 Standing with Israel” rally will take place from noon to 3 p.m. Eastern on the National Mall and is being sponsored by American Christian Leaders for Israel (ACLI), Generation Zion, and the Philos Project.
Monday is the one-year anniversary of the Hamas terrorist attack that killed more than 1,200 people in Israel and took some 200 hostage. It was the deadliest attack on the Jewish community since the Holocaust.
ACLI describes the rally as a “united effort for all those who love Israel.”
The Philos Project, a Christian organization, said the event will pay tribute to the heroes of Oct. 7 who saved lives. Attendees will stand in solidarity for the hostages who have yet to be released.
“This is not a political issue -- it’s a human issue,” said Luke Moon, executive director of The Philos Project. “The courage displayed on October 7 is a powerful reminder that in the face of darkness, humanity has the strength to stand up for what is right. We call on people from all walks of life to join us in honoring the heroes of this day, as well as the hostages in Gaza.”
The rally will take place as the war in Gaza continues and as Israel considers its next move against both Iran and Hezbollah, a terrorist organization that resides in Lebanon across Israel’s northern border.
This week, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei applauded the “logical and legal” 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. Khamenei also vowed to destroy Israel.
“The resistance in the region will not back down with these martyrdoms and will win,” Khamenei told thousands of supporters in Iran, according to the Times of Israel. “Israel will never defeat Hamas and Hezbollah.”
Israel will “not last long,” Khamenei said.
Khamenei’s threat came days after Iran attacked Israel with nearly 200 ballistic missiles, although most were intercepted.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded by saying, “Iran made a big mistake … and it will pay for it.”
Photo Credit: ©Instagram/Gen.zion
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.