Pro-Hamas Protest Erupts in Borough Park Over Israel Land Sale Event

Edited by: Fern Sidman

Tensions flared in Borough Park on Tuesday as pro-Hamas demonstrators gathered to protest an Israel land sale event that had been the subject of last-minute venue changes and uncertainty regarding its status. The event, which was initially rumored to be canceled, ultimately took place at 36th Street and 14th Avenue, drawing both protesters and onlookers in a highly charged atmosphere.

The protest, organized by the activist group Pal-Awda, was against the alleged sale of Palestinian land to Israel. Demonstrators chanted slogans and confronted locals, leading to tensions. Counter-protesters carrying Israeli flags also gathered, with police setting up barricades between the groups. A brawl broke out, resulting in one arrest.

Approximately 100 protesters assembled in a designated area, voicing their opposition to the land sale event, which they claimed was tied to Israel’s ongoing policies in Judea and Samaria. The demonstrators, identified as pro-Hamas supporters, chanted slogans and held up signs condemning the event.

At the same time, a separate group of roughly 250 Orthodox Jewish men observed the demonstration from a distance. Their presence called attention to the deep divisions within the local Jewish community, with some expressing frustration over what they saw as an openly hostile demonstration targeting the Jewish state.

Given the potential for clashes, the New York Police Department (NYPD) was deployed in significant numbers to monitor and control the crowd. Officers worked to maintain order and prevent confrontations between the two groups, though tensions escalated as the demonstration intensified.

As emotions ran high, authorities reported multiple arrests among the protesters. Specific details regarding charges or the circumstances leading to the arrests were not immediately available, but the incidents highlighted the volatility of the gathering. The NYPD’s intervention was crucial in ensuring the event did not spiral into outright violence.

In a post on X.com on late Tuesday, Dov Hikind, a longtime Jewish activist leader Chairman of “Americans Against Anti-Semitism” said as he referred to the Hamas contingent: “This is who we confronted tonight in Brooklyn. Further elaboration not needed. Pick a side and you can let fate decide. Our side won tonight. We may lose a battle but the “war” will be won by US”

The Borough Park protest is the latest in a series of incidents reflecting the heightened tensions surrounding Israel-related events in the U.S. The presence of pro-Hamas demonstrators in a heavily Jewish neighborhood like Borough Park illustrates the extent to which opposition to Israel has permeated various activist groups, including those aligned with anti-Zionist and radical ideological movements.

The protest also raises broader concerns about the growing normalization of Hamas-aligned rhetoric in certain segments of activist circles. While the U.S. government officially designated Hamas as a terrorist organization, pro-Hamas sympathizers have continued to push narratives that portray the group as a resistance movement, a framing that has been widely criticized for disregarding Hamas’s documented human rights violations and its role in orchestrating attacks against civilians.

Jewish community leaders in Borough Park and beyond have condemned the protest, with some emphasizing the dangers of allowing pro-terrorist demonstrations to take place unchecked. Many community members expressed deep concern over the protest’s implications, particularly given the history of anti-Semitic attacks in New York and the rise in incidents targeting Jewish individuals and institutions.

With the NYPD on high alert and community leaders calling for increased security measures, it remains to be seen how authorities will handle future demonstrations that carry the potential for violence and disruption.