Thousands of supporters of Israel marched along Fifth Avenue on Sunday, June 2, during a heavily policed Israel Day parade that took on a more somber tone this year as the war in Gaza entered its eighth month. The normally jubilant event, which has been held annually since 1964, had fewer spectators in Midtown Manhattan than usual because of intense security. The parade, which drew about 40,000 participants, all of whom needed credentials to march, focused on remembering the hostages seized by Hamas on Oct. 7. Along the entire parade route, Rabbi Gadi held a poster with photos of the hostages. He said few protests intruded on “the spirit of the day,” which attracted 158 groups of marchers, including the Long Island coalition, pictured above.