The ride, in its seventh year, was organized by the Rolling Thunder of South Florida motorcycle riders' club, a pro-Israel U.S.-based group dedicated to strengthening Israel, the U.S.-Israel alliance and combating antisemitism.
Last Friday, some 250 motorcycle enthusiasts rode 250 miles, from Tel Aviv to northern Israel, along the border with Lebanon, and back. They were demonstrating support for Israel, the Israel Defense Forces and especially communities in the north impacted during the Swords of Iron War by Lebanon’s Hezbollah terrorist organization.
The event was organized by the Rolling Thunder of South Florida motorcycle riders’ club, a pro-Israel U.S.-based group dedicated to strengthening Israel, the U.S.-Israel alliance and combating antisemitism.
The ride, in its seventh year, was originally scheduled for June 20, with the expected participation of double the number of bikers, including those flying in from the United States. However, as a result of Israel’s “Operation Rising Lion” against Iran, a plane with participants already in Israeli airspace was diverted to Europe.
Boaz Edri, president of Rolling Thunder, who founded the club 22 years ago along with his partner Tony Raz, did succeed in making it to Israel for the ride.
The main purpose of the event was to raise awareness about the realities Israel is facing, including the plight of the hostages, he told JNS.
“When you roar through the State of Israel with hundreds of bikers, you shake the earth beneath, raising awareness, and people capture the images on their phones and share them with the world,” he said.
“We need to win the second big war Israel is facing these days—the hasbara (information) battlefield. We need to show people and tell people the truth,” he added.
Edri said in addition to the ride in Israel, and other similar riding events in the United States, Rolling Thunder, along with partner organizations including south Florida’s Community is Unity (CIU) organization, has sent nine plane loads of essential equipment to Israel for IDF soldiers, sponsored barbeques for hundreds of troops at IDF bases and much more since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas-led invasion of southern Israel.
“I was born in Haifa,” said Edri, “and all my life I’ve retained my love for my country. I’m here to help our IDF warriors in any way, upgrading their equipment with the best technologies, so they can be a step ahead of their enemies.”
Image - JNS/Bikers from around the world take part in a solidarity ride in Israel, for the Israel Defense Forces and especially communities in the north impacted during the Swords of Iron War, June 27, 2025. Photo courtesy of Rolling Thunder - South Florida.