Crowd rallies on Boston Common in support of Israel after Hamas attack

Political and religious leaders gathered Monday afternoon on Boston Common to show support for Israel following the Islamist militant group Hamas' surprise attack Saturday, its largest in decades.

Hundreds of people attended the demonstration in Boston, many hoisting Israeli flags. Several political and religious leaders addressed the crowd as news had spread of a rising death toll in the Gaza Strip.

As NPR reported Tuesday morning, Israeli military officials said more than 900 Israelis were killed, with many deaths attributed to rocket fire. Palestinian health officials also said at least 680 people in Gaza were killed by Israeli strikes.

Gov. Maura Healey, Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu spoke at the demonstration in Boston to express support for Israel.

“We join President Biden and people across the world in condemning these acts of terror,” Healey told the crowd. “We condemn them as a matter of fundamental human decency. We condemn them as attacks on our own beloved community here in Massachusetts. Our bond with Israel is unbreakable.”

According to a 2015 study published by Brandeis University, Greater Boston is home to the fourth-largest Jewish community in the United States.

Warren told the audience that “as a member of the armed services committee, I am committed to Israel’s safety and security.”

She also called for the end of the “political games" as ambassador posts, including to Israel, remain unfilled as diplomats await hearings and confirmations.

"We cannot allow senior and diplomatic posts to go unfilled,” said Warren.

Markey offered similar sentiments to Warren in his remarks, condemning the attack by Hamas and reiterating the United States' support for Israel. After denouncing members of Hamas as "violent extremists," Markey said, “The United States and the international community must keep pushing for diplomacy and the ending of civilian casualties on all sides.” Several members of the crowd began to boo Markey as he added, “There must be a deescalation of the current violence” in the region.

“We grieve with you,” he said moments after members of the crowd booed. “We have to ensure that our Jewish friends and neighbors can never be taken for granted. We will not condone antisemitism in any form in the United States.”

In her remarks, Wu stressed that Boston is connected to Israel.

“Boston has always measured our connection to Israel deep in our hearts,” she said. “Boston stands with Israel. We will continue to stand with Israel.”

Jeremy Burton, CEO of the Jewish Communities Relation Council, one of the groups that organized Monday’s rally, said he hoped the rally would serve as a healing moment for members of the Jewish community and locals with ties to the region so that "we know we're not alone."

Regarding the attack by Hamas, Burton said, "There can be no equivocation about the horror that was committed. These are war crimes. There’s nothing about this that leads anybody on the road to peace."

Monday's rally in Boston was organized by the Israeli American Council of New England, the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston and Combined Jewish Philanthropies.