More than 100,000 people turned out to mark the annual Israel Day on Fifth parade in New York City on Sunday, “breaking all previous records,” the UJA-Federation of New York has announced.

Tens of thousands of New Yorkers braved security concerns to attend the  parade in Manhattan whose “Celebrate Israel” theme was recast this year as “One People, One Heart”.

Fifth Avenue was awash on Sunday with “bring them home” chants, an hours-long reminder of the aftermath of Octover 7 and a nation still reeling and waiting for the return of the hostages whom Hamas holds in Gaza.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams (Photo: Getty)

Eden Golan, Israel’s Eurovision star, joined UJA’s float at the parade, while Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer, New York governor Kathy Hochul, city mayor Eric Adams and state attorney general Letitia James also attended, “demonstrating their love and support for Israel, its people and its culture”, said the UJA-Federation.

“This is the most important parade in my lifetime,” Mark Treyger, CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, which organises the parade said.

The grandson of Holocaust survivors and son of Soviet parents who fled religious persecution, Treyger said that “strength and resiliency is in me both as a New Yorker and as a proud Jew.”

“We’re in the aftermath of the worst attack on the Jewish people since the days of the Holocaust. We have seen astronomical antisemitism, but we are strong and resilient.”

Treyger called the 60th annual parade “an affirmation of our unwavering commitment and pride in our Jewish identity, our love for our heritage, our support for Israel and also our love to live in the greatest city here in New York.”

Eric Goldstein, CEO of UJA-Federation of New York, said that since the Hamas pogrom “we are not the same people. After October 7, we walk around today with a heavy heart.”

Goldstein, who spent the weekend meeting with families of hostages, added: “Each story just breaks your heart,” he said.

More than 70 family members of hostages participated in the parade, joined by 2,000 supporters of New York’s Hostages Families Forum. 

A large 'Free them now' flag is held at the Israel Day on Fifth parade (Photo: Getty)

Some 200 Jewish civic and religious groups marched, as did traditional bands and dancing troupes alongside floats with the parade stretching 20 blocks along Fifth Avenue.

“What you’re seeing today are larger crowds of marchers than ever before,” Goldstein said, “showing just how determined the New York community is to stand in solidarity and love with Israel.”

The New York Police Department said it doubled its usual presence at this year’s event, with the extra officers assigned solely to deal with protesters.

Anti-Israel protesters are usually assigned a place along the parade route, but due to particularly violent pro-Hamas protests around the city, demonstrators were pushed a block off the route.

NY Governor Kathy Hochul

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz and Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli participated, as did a handful of Knesset members—a lighter presence of Israeli officials after last year’s record turnout of ministers.

Mayor Adams declared: “our message is extremely clear: Destroy Hamas, bring home the hostages.”

He added: “Today you’re seeing solidarity. We don’t want to see any innocent person die, but we have to deal with the hate of Hamas and it must be dismantled and destroyed.”

Schumer, who is Jewish and has a long history of supporting Israel, drew heavy and sustained jeers at the start of the parade route when he spoke, however. Thr politician has been highly critical in recent weeks of the Israeli government and the Israel Defense Forces.

Referring to Hamas, Schumer said that “we know who is responsible for this evil,” to which a man standing nearby responded: “You.”

Elsewhere, Democratic representiatves Ritchie Torres, Tom Suozzi and Dan Goldman held a press conference with the families of Omer Neutra and Itay Chen. Both families have long-standing ties to the city.

The Long Island-born Neutra, a tank commander serving near Gaza, has been missing since October  7, while Chen, a Brooklyn native who was also serving near Gaza, was killed on the day of the Hamas invasion. His body is still being held.

Standing with the families, Torres said: “We all want to see an end to the war in Gaza. But an end to the war requires above all else the release of the hostages.”

He added: “Hamas has the power to end the war it began and release the hostages.”

Suozzi said of the Neutras: “I know this family well. It turns out that I had met Omer Neutra when he was in high school. And I have a 22-year-old son, and I can’t imagine what they’re going through. We’re going to do everything we can to fight to bring them home.”

Israeli singer Eden Golan takes a selfie with fans (Photo by Adam Gray/Getty Images)

He insisted that no matter where any member of Congress stood on Israel, the fact that American hostages are still being held in Gaza should be enough to bring them together.

“Whether you’re a right wing conservative or left-wing progressive, everybody should agree,” he said.

“We want to bring home our American hostages, and in doing so, hope to bring an end to this conflict and bring all the hostages home.”

Daniel Elgarat, brother of another hostage, Itzik, described the large turnout as “very heartwarming.”

He said: “I’m not surprised. I know there are people here that are very supportive and caring, and we want to thank all of them.”

Sharon Sharabi, the brother of hostages Eli and Yossi Sharabi, echoed these sentiments, saying New York “feels like our home. A lot of Jews, a lot of American citizens that are supporting Israel.”

Yossi Sharabi is thought to have been killed by an Israeli Air Force strike on a building in Gaza. Both Yossi’s body and Eli, who is thought to still be alive, are still in Gaza.

“It is an important day for us to know that American people stand with Israel, every day, every time, everywhere,” Sharon said.

He has not lost hope that a hostage deal could soon be agreed: “We wish that we will close the deal as soon as possible,” he said. “It’s not simple, but we hope we can save them together—all the world.”

Reflecting on the tone of the event, Goldstein, of the UJA, said it was necessary to express joy and pride about Israel despite the horrific events that continue to unfold.

“It would be really inappropriate this year to have pom poms and beach balls,” he said. “That said, we have to still celebrate the miracle that is the modern day state of Israel. We need to carry the concerns of the hostages, the devastation, that destruction.”