Cleveland shows up in force at March for Israel

More than 1,700 protesters from Cleveland filled 25 buses to travel to Tuesday's "March for Israel" in Washington, D.C.

Why it matters: The local contingent, organized by the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, joined tens of thousands of others across the country supporting Israel's military campaign against Hamas.

Catch up quick: The march came nearly six weeks after Hamas attacked Israel, and as the death toll in Gaza continues to climb and the dire humanitarian crisis there deepens, Axios' Jacob Knutson reports.

• The protesters demanded the release of hundreds of hostages held in Gaza and condemned rising antisemitism in the U.S. and abroad.
• More than 11,200 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed during Israel's heavy bombardment and ground operation, according to the Ministry of Health in Hamas-run Gaza.
• Israel's government has resisted calls for a ceasefire but has begun temporary humanitarian pauses to allow Palestinians in northern Gaza to get supplies or evacuate to the south.

The intrigue: Capitol security was heightened in response to the massive rally, though Capitol Hill has repeatedly seen increased safety measures since the war began.

Zoom in: Cleveland's caravan departed from Beachwood shortly after midnight Tuesday morning and returned home late Tuesday night.

What they're saying: "We raised our voices to make clear that Israel has a right to defend itself against terrorist groups like Hamas, and that we will not let rising antisemitism and acts of intimidation silence us," the Federation posted on its Facebook page.

Go deeper: Scoop: Internal State Dept. memo blasts Biden, U.S. policy on Israel-Hamas war