From the Liveblog of
Sunday, October 8, 2023
Several hundred rally in New York in support of Palestinians, terror onslaught
Luke Tress is The Times of Israel's New York correspondent.
Several hundred pro-Palestinian demonstrators rally in support of the Hamas terror attack on Israel in New York City’s Times Square.
The protesters wave Palestinian flags and chant “Resistance is justified,” “Globalize the intifada,” and “Smash the settler Zionist state.”
“From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” they chant.
Several dozen pro-Israel demonstrators, including many Israelis, rally across the street. They sing Israel’s anthem “Hatikvah,” bearing Israeli flags, and they chant “Shame” and “Murderers.”
Tensions run high, with the Israeli group chanting, “The people of Israel live” in Hebrew, and the pro-Palestinian group shouting back, “Free Palestine.” Some of the pro-Palestinian crowd makes crying faces at the Israelis to mock them.
Some opponents argue on the sidelines, but are quickly separated by police. Dozens of officers and metal barricades stand between the two groups.
Yesterday, New York Governor Kathy Hochul condemned the rally.
The Times of Israel Community.