A violent mob of anti-Israel protesters disrupted a memorial event in downtown Manhattan on Monday night, as they chanted “Long Live the Intifada” and displayed flags associated with Iran-backed Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah. The protest was organized by the pro-Palestinian group Within Our Lifetime and was billed as a “citywide day of rage for Gaza.
The event was held outside the Nova Music Festival Exhibition on Wall Street, which commemorates the victims of the festival where 364 people were killed by Hamas terrorists on October 7th. Protesters also hurled insults at police officers and displayed a flag associated with Iran-backed Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah during the disturbing gathering that drew swift backlash from Israel supporters.
Former speechwriter for the Israeli government, Aviva Klompas, condemned the protest on Twitter, stating “How utterly evil do you have to be to protest outside a site that memorializes the 1,200 victims of October 7?” Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine also added his voice to the backlash, calling the protesters’ actions “repulsive and vile” in a post on social media.
The Nova Exhibit was unveiled in April to give New Yorkers an idea of the terror that Hamas inflicted on Israel on Oct. 7, including when the “Tribe of Nova” festival in southern Israel was attacked. The exhibit is expected to last through the end of this week.
On top of the hundreds of concert-goers killed at the festival, a United Nations envoy said in March there are “reasonable grounds” that Hamas terrorists committed rape and “sexualized torture” during the horrifying assault in southern Israel.
The demonstration was met with strong condemnation from various quarters, including New York GOP Rep. Michael Lawler who called the actions of protesters “disgusting.” Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt previously said in April that a call for intifada is to “call for violence against Israelis and Jews and Israel.
The protests against Israel have been ongoing since the Jewish state was attacked by Hamas terrorists last year, leading to the slaughter of 1,200 people and an ensuing military campaign in Gaza by the Israeli military. Protesters have also blocked city roadways and occupied transit hubs during the months of protesting.
