A pro-Palestinian protester was filmed burning the Israeli flag as demonstrators on both sides of the divide demonstrated in large numbers in New York’s Washington Square Park on Wednesday evening.
The protests came after an explosion at a hospital in Gaza that Hamas said killed at least 500 people, sparking widespread outrage.
The video shows several of them shouting “Allahu Akbar!” as they burned the Star of David flag of the Jewish state.
There are reportedly hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters and dozens of pro-Israel protesters in the park.
The leaders of the pro-Palestine faction are NYU Students for Justice in Palestine. They, along with other campus organizations, criticized the university president for his condemnation of the Hamas attack.
A pro-Palestinian protester was filmed burning the Israeli flag as demonstrators on both sides of the divide demonstrated in large numbers in New York’s Washington Square Park on Wednesday evening
Several pro-Palestinian protesters chanted “Allahu Akbar!” as they burned the Jewish state’s Star of David flag
President Linda Mills has been accused of “exterminating” Palestinians in her comments on the shocking Hamas attacks that killed 1,400 people.
“In your recent statement, President [Linda] “Mills makes the decision to continue this trend of dismissal and blatant erasure of the experiences of Palestinians both at NYU and in Palestine,” the student group wrote.
“The statement makes no mention of the excessive violence against Palestinians in recent days, even though 413 Palestinians were murdered in Gaza in the last 48 hours.” The frame is intended to convey an untrue and distorting image in which “terrorist attacks” only target Israeli citizens would be committed.”
The huge crowd finally faced the pro-Israel supporters. Aside from the burning flag, everything appeared peaceful, but the NYPD attempted to create separation between the groups, according to NBC New York.
According to CBS New York, the NYPD’s Intel Division is monitoring social media posts for potential threats.
“They bombed a hospital! You bombed a hospital!’ shouted some of the pro-Palestinian protesters, the New York Post reported.
“Take her home!” Terrorists! Terrorists! Terrorists!’ pro-Israel protesters responded, referring to the many hostages taken by Hamas after the first attack.
Some protesters held signs calling on the U.S. to cut funding to Israel, while another held a sign remembering Wadea Al-Fayoume, a six-year-old from Illinois who was stabbed by a man believes he was influenced by the coverage of last weekend’s attacks.
The huge crowd finally faced the pro-Israel supporters
Some protesters held signs calling on the U.S. to cut funding to Israel
A protester held a sign to remember Wadea Al-Fayoume, a 6-year-old from Illinois who was stabbed to death by a man believed to have been influenced by coverage of last weekend’s attacks
Palestine supporters attend a vigil in Washington Square Park in Manhattan
Iran-backed Hezbollah, which fought a war with Israel in 2006, called for a day of protests in Beirut on Tuesday in response to the attack.
Islamic Jihad denied that any of its rockets were involved in the hospital explosion.
Hezbollah denounced Israel’s attack, saying in its statement: “The attack reveals the true criminal face of this organization and its sponsor… the United States, which bears direct and complete responsibility for this massacre.”
Videos from the hospital showed fire engulfing the building and the hospital grounds littered with bodies, including many young children. Hundreds of people reportedly sought shelter in the hospital at the time of the explosion, which Hamas described as a “horrific massacre” and “genocidal crime.”
About 6,000 Palestinians were staying at the hospital, which is reportedly funded by the Anglican Church.
The attack, shortly after an attack on a nearby UN school during Israeli bombings killed at least six people, escalates the 11-day-old war that has already claimed thousands of lives on both sides.
It also came just hours before US President Joe Biden was due to land in the Middle East for key talks on the war, which were canceled as summit host Jordan and the wider region mourned the victims, the White House said.
Biden’s visit to Israel was still ongoing.
New York City and many immigrant communities across the country are concerned about the recurring attacks over the past week.
Several Palestinian Americans interviewed Friday in a Brooklyn neighborhood with a large Arab population said the atmosphere had been tense over the past week.
Aside from the burning flag, everything seemed peaceful, but the NYPD attempted to create separation between the groups
The NYPD Intelligence Division said it is monitoring social media posts for possible threats
Iran-backed Hezbollah, which fought a war with Israel in 2006, called for a day of protests in Beirut on Tuesday in response to the attack
Jumana Alkaram said she had not been personally threatened, but said: “I know if I demonstrated my heritage or the Palestinian flag, there would be some kind of threat.” Because the majority has the support of Israel and not the full, legitimate one story about what is happening in Gaza.”
In New York City, the Palestinian restaurant Ayat was forced to turn off its phone after receiving “non-stop” threatening voicemails, according to co-owner Abdul Elenani.
A mural depicting a crying Palestinian hangs on the storefront, and calls to “end the occupation” appear on the menu.
On Friday, a man entered the dining room and shouted “terrorist” at people behind the counter, Elenani said.
Still, the hostile reception was overshadowed by the support he received from his neighbors, many of whom were Jewish and shared his views on minimizing civilian deaths, he said.
“In New York, we all live together, we work together, we grow together,” Elenani said. “And we all want this violence to stop.”