Pro-Hamas Protesters Assault Israeli Minister Itamar Ben Gvir Outside Yale Following Speech; Minister Uninjured and Defiant

Edited by: Fern Sidman

A speaking tour by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir turned confrontational Wednesday night as pro-Hamas demonstrators attempted to assault him outside Yale University, where the minister had just delivered a speech. As reported by Israel National News, the incident involved verbal threats and physical aggression, with protesters shouting slogans and hurling water bottles at the Israeli minister as he exited the university grounds.

Despite the chaos, Ben Gvir stood his ground. According to the information provided in the Israel National News report, the minister refused to retreat and defiantly raised a V-for-victory sign toward the hostile crowd — a symbolic gesture that underscored his trademark political posture of strength under fire.

“The minister is doing well and was not injured,” a spokesperson for Ben Gvir confirmed to Israel National News, reassuring the public amid concerns of rising political violence tied to his U.S. tour.

Ben Gvir’s appearance at Yale had already generated significant controversy. He had been invited to speak at Shabtai, a non-university-affiliated Jewish leadership society that frequently hosts international policymakers and intellectuals. His visit was met with intensified protest activity, including unauthorized encampments on campus, chanting demonstrators, and growing concerns about antisemitic behavior among some protest groups.

As Israel National News previously reported, tensions had been building on campus since Tuesday, when protesters defied Yale’s protest guidelines by establishing an overnight tent encampment in Beinecke Plaza. University officials ultimately revoked the group’s organizational privileges and opened an investigation into reports of “disturbing antisemitic conduct.”

Ben Gvir’s U.S. tour began earlier in the week in West Palm Beach, Florida, where he was honored at a private dinner at President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, attended by dozens of senior business leaders and Republican lawmakers. As reported by Israel National News, the dinner served not only as a diplomatic engagement, but as an opportunity for Ben Gvir to advocate his national security policies directly to American political influencers.

During the evening, Ben Gvir addressed Republican Senators and members of Congress, receiving what Israel National News described as a warm and supportive response. Among those in attendance was House Majority Whip Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN), with whom Ben Gvir held a particularly notable exchange.

Ben Gvir emphasized the necessity of bombing Hamas’ food storage warehouses, explaining it as a strategy to exert military and psychological pressure on the terror organization to secure the release of Israeli hostages.

Emmer, according to Israel National News, responded by voicing his support, saying he was following Ben Gvir’s actions closely and backed his strategic approach.

Ben Gvir’s presence in the U.S. has drawn both enthusiastic support and fiery condemnation — a reflection of his role in Israeli politics. A key member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition, Ben Gvir temporarily resigned from the government earlier this year to protest a ceasefire agreement that involved the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Israeli hostages. He only rejoined the cabinet after military operations resumed in Gaza, as per the Israel National News report.

His unapologetic nationalist positions and fierce rhetoric against Hamas — designated as a terrorist organization by Israel, the United States, the European Union, and other nations — have earned him praise among Israel’s right-wing voters and sharp criticism from left-wing and pro-Hamas groups in the U.S. and Europe.

The attempted assault outside Yale now raises serious questions about security and freedom of speech on American university campuses. While students and faculty have the right to peacefully protest visiting speakers, the escalation into physical aggression — particularly against a sitting minister of a U.S. ally — has sparked concern among both Jewish groups and civil liberties watchdogs.

The report at Israel National News indicated that Yale University, which had already come under fire for failing to adequately address antisemitism in recent demonstrations, is now expected to face renewed scrutiny over campus safety protocols and its responsibility to protect guest speakers and members of the academic community.

From Mar-a-Lago to New Haven, Itamar Ben Gvir’s U.S. visit has become a flashpoint for ideological confrontation — pitting supporters of Israel’s security doctrine against activists aligned with Hamas and anti-Israel extremism.

As the Israel National News indicated, the minister remains unshaken, seizing the moment to reinforce his message of strength in the face of terror and unwavering support for Israeli sovereignty. Whether his words are received with applause or outrage, one thing is clear: Ben Gvir’s visit has stirred not just debate, but a reckoning over how far protest can go before it becomes violence — and whether America’s elite institutions are prepared to confront it.