Leftwing Jewish activists campaigned against Israel’s bombardment and blockade of Gaza this week in Washington, culminating in protests that have seen hundreds arrested for civil disobedience outside the White House and Congress.

But groups like the Anti-Defamation League have dismissed the actions as unrepresentative of fellow Jews, signalling a growing rift in the community as the war in the Middle East continues to claim thousands of lives.

Demonstrators – some of them waving Palestinian flags – have accused Israel of preparing to commit genocide in Gaza in retaliation for the 7 October attacks by Hamas that killed more than 1,400 Israelis and resulted in nearly 200 being kidnapped.

In response, the staunchly pro-Israel Anti-Defamation League (ADL) – formed more than 100 years ago to combat antisemitism – said the activists belonged to “far-left radical organizations [who] do not represent the overwhelming majority of the Jewish community”.

Wednesday’s rally occurred in the aftermath of the previous day’s explosion at al-Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza, which killed hundreds of civilians.

Medea Benjamin, a veteran activist and founder of Code Pink, a women’s pro-peace group, pointed to a previous fatal strike on al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City during the 50-day war of 2014 as evidence of what she saw as Israel’s likely cullpability in Tuesday’s incident.

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