Empty strollers displayed outside of Parliament in London at a pro-Israel rally on Sunday, Oct. 22. Source: X/Twitter

Against the backdrop of dozens of pro-Palestine demonstrations, thousands of people took to the streets in cities across the world on Sunday in a unified show of support for Israel’s war effort and to call to release the approximately 200 hostages held in Gaza.

In London, thousands of pro-Israel supporters created a display of empty strollers and posters with the faces of the kidnapped children taken during Hamas’ massacre of Israelis on Oct. 7, calling on world leaders to ensure their release.

“It’s at a time such as this that words do matter,” said UK Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis. “And to all our friends from whom so far we haven’t heard a single word: your silence is deafening.”

The day before, tens of thousands of pro-Palestine demonstrators took to London’s streets with reports of violence and antisemitic rhetoric.

“Bring them home!” Thank you to the thousands in Trafalgar Square today who came to stand with Israel and to call for the release of more than 200 Israelis being held hostage by Hamas. pic.twitter.com/KAZKrrl06U

— Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis (@chiefrabbi) October 22, 2023

In Berlin, the capital of Germany, organizers say 25,000 people rallied at the Brandenburg Gate, among them families of the abductees, along with the the president of Germany and the Israeli ambassador to the country, Ron Prosor.

“We have no other choice! At the end of the war, Hamas will no longer rule the Gaza Strip,” Prosor said at the rally, to an eruption of cheers.

“Our place is at the side of the homeland of the Jewish people,” said Omir Nouripor, a German-Iranian politician with The Greens, a left-wing party. “Our place is at the side of Israel. Am Yisrael Chai.”

Yoni Asher, whose wife and daughters were kidnapped to Gaza, also reportedly met with German President Frank Walter Steinmeier, who attended the rally, according to Israeli broadcaster N12. “They were shocked and saw the harsh reality in their eyes — I got the impression that it touched them. It is important that people from the leadership are aware of the personal stories of the hostages.”

THANK YOU to the thousands of people in London who came out in droves to show their support for Israelis and the innocent civilians being held hostage by Hamas.

Bring
Them
Home

🇮🇱🇬🇧pic.twitter.com/flYLlWqp5u

— Israel ישראל (@Israel) October 22, 2023

Elsewhere, hundreds attended a demonstration of support for Israel in Madrid, Spain, in front of the city’s parliament building.

In New York, thousands of Belz Hasidim are scheduled to gather for a communal prayer for Israel on Sunday evening, according to BoroPark Update, a local media outlet.