Hundreds of pro-Israeli protestors march in Prague against anti-Semitism

Hundreds of people marched through the streets of Prague Sunday afternoon to protest anti-Semitism and show their support for Israel, particularly in the current context of Iranian attacks against the country. The event, organized by the Czech branch of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ), saw participants carrying Israeli flags and banners with messages of solidarity.

Among those who spoke was Jenny Sividya, a witness of the massacre at the Israeli music festival Nova on Oct. 7, 2023, where Hamas gunmen killed hundreds. Sividya, who lost her brother and his partner in the attack, shared her experience with the protesters, stating: "They ran for their lives for about an hour and a half, but eventually the terrorists caught up with them and murdered them on their way home."

Several prominent political figures attended the event, including Czech Senate Deputy Speaker Jiří Drahoš and Minister for Science, Research and Innovation Helena Langšádlová, who represented Prime Minister Petr Fiala. 

Drahoš stressed the importance of supporting Israel, especially in light of the recent missile attack from Iran. “Anti-Semitism must not be excused, or even justified, under any circumstances,” he added. The event also marks the 20th time the Czech branch of the ICEJ has organized the Culture Against Anti-Semitism event. 

With the event's theme being a "March of Good Will," the crowd’s central message was that love and unity can triumph over hate and violence. With the continued support of the Czech Republic and other countries, organizers hope that the war will soon end and anti-Semitism be quashed. 

Fiala arrived in the U.S. early this morning for a pre-arranged meeting with President Joe Biden to talk about international security and continued backing of Israel. The Czech government – including Czech President Petr Pavel – has long held a firmly pro-Israel line, promising unequivocal support since October. It strongly condemned Iran’s weekend attack on Israel. Pavel wrote on social media site X: “I unequivocally condemn Iran's direct attack on Israel…this is a move that dangerously escalates the conflict in the region. We remain in continuous contact with our partners.”

The protest comes as tensions between Israel and Hamas continue to escalate. According to Hamas-controlled authorities, over 33,545 Palestinians have been killed and 76,000 wounded in Israel's retaliatory bombings and ground operations. The attacks have also caused a humanitarian crisis, with some areas facing famine.