By: Fern Sidman

In a shocking display of anti-Israel fervor, more than 150 radical left-wing activists and pro-Hamas demonstrators staged a disruptive protest on Sunday morning outside the Shaarei Zion synagogue, located along the otherwise serene stretch of Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn’s Gravesend neighborhood. The synagogue, a cornerstone of the area’s predominantly Jewish community, became an unexpected flashpoint after rumors circulated that Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir would be speaking there.

In reality, heightened security threats led organizers to cancel the Minister’s appearance at the last minute—a decision unknown to the demonstrators, who descended upon the synagogue anyway, waving Palestinian flags, chanting anti-Israel slogans, and accusing Israel of “genocide” in Gaza. The protesters gathered under the banner of “Pal-Awda,” the New York/New Jersey branch of Al-Awda: The Palestine Right to Return Coalition, a group with a long and troubling history of openly supporting terrorism against Israel.\

Al-Awda’s radical positions are well-documented. On October 7, 2023—the day Hamas terrorists unleashed the bloodiest assault on Israeli civilians in modern history—Al-Awda issued a statement proclaiming their “unwavering support of the Palestinian resistance,” celebrating the Hamas-led massacre as a justified “path to end the ongoing Nakba.” Furthermore, Al-Awda is directly linked to Samidoun, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization notorious for glorifying acts of violence committed by Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). Beyond these affiliations, Al-Awda also serves as a fiscal sponsor for the US Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (USACBI), a leading promoter of the anti-Israel BDS movement.

NOW: FIGHTS, CLASHES and ARRESTS on Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn where Pro-Palestine protesters face off with Israel supporters outside of a Synagogue where Ben Gvir was expected to speak before cancelation.

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Sunday’s protest in Brooklyn is part of a growing trend of increasingly aggressive anti-Israel actions across the United States, often fueled by organizations with ties to extremist groups.

Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s American visit, his first in an official capacity, has been marked by both enthusiastic support and intense hostility. Having arrived in the United States early last week, Ben Gvir embarked on a fast-paced tour, beginning with private meetings and a high-profile speaking engagement at Mar-a-Lago, hosted by Republican lawmakers. In South Florida, he visited police and correctional facilities, met with community leaders, and engaged with supporters, focusing on strengthening bonds between American and Israeli security entities.

However, not all receptions were welcoming. On Wednesday evening, while visiting Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, Ben Gvir faced a violent protest staged by pro-Hamas activists. According to Israel National News, the demonstrators hurled verbal abuse, threats, and water bottles at the Minister as he exited the premises after addressing a group of students and supporters. Security teams had to act swiftly to shield him from physical harm.

Undeterred, Ben Gvir continued his public appearances. On Thursday afternoon, he participated in a press event in Manhattan organized by the Shabtai Center, led by Rabbi Shmuly Hecht—the same rabbi who had facilitated the Yale event. Moderated by Liel Leibovitz, Editor-at-Large of Tablet Magazine, the discussion focused on Ben Gvir’s role overseeing Israel’s police and prison services. Ben Gvir emphasized that although his policies have matured over the years, they remain grounded in a deep, unwavering commitment to Israel’s security and Jewish heritage, particularly regarding Jewish prayer rights on the Temple Mount.

Later that evening, Minister Ben Gvir received a warm welcome in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, where he addressed about 100 distinguished members of the Bais Shmuel-Chabad community. The gathering was organized in honor of Chabad of Hebron, led by Rabbi Danny Cohen, whose organization provides critical support to Israeli soldiers and visitors in Hebron, home to the Tomb of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs—the second holiest site in Judaism.

In addition to his formal speeches, Ben Gvir also engaged informally with prominent Chabad leaders at the home of Rabbi Chanina Sperlin, reaffirming the importance of maintaining strong ties between Jewish communities in the Diaspora and Israel.

The atmosphere was electric at 770 Eastern Parkway, the global headquarters of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, on Thursday night as Ben Gvir joined over 1,000 attendees at a festive siyum celebration — marking the completion of a significant unit of religious study. The evening, filled with spirited singing, heartfelt dancing, and emotional expressions of Jewish pride and resilience, stood in stark contrast to the tension building just outside.

Even before Ben Gvir’s arrival at the iconic Crown Heights venue, anti-Israel demonstrators had begun assembling in force. Waving Palestinian flags and shouting slogans such as “Free Palestine” and “Zionism is terrorism,” the protesters — largely affiliated with radical left-wing and pro-Hamas networks — created a volatile scene. According to Israel National News, confrontations erupted quickly as demonstrators attempted to engage Chabad community members directly, leading to heated verbal altercations and several instances of shoving. Police officers maintained a tense perimeter to prevent further escalation.

Despite the hostile demonstrations, Minister Ben Gvir remained unflinching. His American tour, framed around reinforcing bonds with the Diaspora’s Orthodox and Zionist communities, was clearly intended to send a message: that unwavering support for Israel is vital, especially during a time of global turbulence and rising anti-Semitism. His rhetoric of strength and national pride resonated deeply among the assembled celebrants, who greeted him enthusiastically.

On Sunday morning, however, at the Shaarei Zion synagogue, a smaller but equally determined counter-protest had assembled to stand against the pro-Hamas demonstrators who had gathered outside the shul. Among the pro-Israel attendees was a non-Jewish supporter who, while holding an Israeli flag, spoke anonymously to The Jewish Voice.

“I have taken a stand for Israel and against anti-Semitism,” he said. “If these Hamas terrorist supporters can come into the heart of a predominantly Jewish neighborhood without fear, they can do this to Christians of all denominations too, and anyone who isn’t Muslim.”

THREAD: Police are setting up barricades outside of Synagogue on Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn, where Pro-Palestine protesters and Pro-Israel supporters are gathered outside, where Ben Gvir is rumored to speak at the location.

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He expressed strong optimism now that President Donald Trump has returned to office, emphasizing that Trump’s firm stance against anti-Semitism on college campuses and in broader society offers a badly needed course correction. “I think Trump is doing the right thing by holding Hamas supporters accountable as well as the progressive left that has fostered this environment of hatred against Jews,” he added. “I recognize Israel as a Jewish state, and they have every right — and moral obligation — to defend themselves.”

Another demonstrator, identifying himself simply as Ben and noting his membership in Brooklyn’s vibrant Syrian-Jewish community, echoed these sentiments. “We are living in a very sad time,” he lamented. “There is way too much hatred in this world, and as history has recorded, what begins with the Jews does not end with the Jews. These pro-Hamas people have a right to demonstrate — that’s protected speech — but we also have a right, and frankly a duty, to challenge them.”

Clashes and ARRESTS on Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn where Pro-Palestine protesters face off with Israel supporters outside of a Synagogue where Ben Gvir was expected to speak before cancelation.

Video by @peterhvideo @FreedomNTV [email protected] to license pic.twitter.com/smHIsBtodF

— Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 (@ScooterCasterNY) April 27, 2025

Standing firm with a pro-Israel placard, David Z. Schwartz, another participant, criticized what he perceived as a dangerous complacency toward global threats. “I find it inconceivable,” Schwartz told The Jewish Voice, “that those who bankroll these protesters — namely Iran — have been allowed to delay consequences for their nuclear ambitions.”

Spearheading the counter-protest effort was Stephanie Ben Shimol, a dedicated pro-Israel activist who organized the gathering through her group, United Zionists. Speaking to The Jewish Voice, Ben Shimol passionately decried the failure of local leadership to protect Jewish communities more robustly.

“I wholeheartedly support President Trump’s initiatives to stem the tide of anti-Semitism,” she said, “but Mayor Eric Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul have failed us miserably.” Pointing at the masked faces of the pro-Hamas protesters, she continued: “Look at them — they’re all hiding behind masks because they know their jobs and reputations would be at risk if their identities were exposed. This could have been stopped if our elected officials had seriously pushed for a mask ban, but they didn’t.”

Ocean Parkway Brooklyn NY.

After pro txrrorist anarchists came to protest at a Jewish house of worship, choas Erupted and pro txrrorist anarchists were arrested by the NYPD

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Ben Shimol’s remarks underscored a growing frustration within the Jewish community over the perceived laxity of New York City and State authorities in dealing with the disturbing surge of anti-Israel and anti-Jewish activism — activism that too often veers into open intimidation and threats.

For many Jewish New Yorkers, the sight of Hamas sympathizers brazenly demonstrating outside their synagogues and community centers is not only disturbing — it is deeply personal, a reminder that the age-old hatred they fled from other lands has resurfaced, now cloaked in slogans of “resistance” and “justice.”

The chaotic scenes witnessed outside Shaarei Zion on Sunday are indicative of a troubling surge in extremist activism within the United States, particularly from organizations closely aligned with terror-affiliated groups. What was once limited to university campuses has now spilled into residential neighborhoods, placing peaceful Jewish communities on the front lines of an ideological battle imported from the Middle East.

For Itamar Ben Gvir and his supporters, the American tour reinforced an urgent message: that solidarity with Israel is not merely a foreign policy issue — it is a moral obligation for all those who cherish democracy, human rights, and religious freedom.

As Minister Ben Gvir closes out his US tour, the question remains: will the wider public heed this call to stand with Israel — or will extremist forces, emboldened by permissive leadership and masked in the language of social justice, gain the upper hand?