Anti-Israel Protesters Storm Trump Tower Over Mahmoud Khalil’s Arrest, Nearly 100 Detained by NYPD

By: Fern Sidman

A dramatic confrontation unfolded in the heart of Midtown Manhattan on Thursday as nearly 100 anti-Israel protesters descended upon Trump Tower in a defiant show of solidarity with Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Hamas Columbia University graduate student organizer who was recently arrested by ICE agents.  As was reported by The New York Post on Thursday, Khalil was apprehended on Saturday under the Trump administration’s crackdown on foreign nationals accused of stoking anti-Semitism on U.S. college campuses. His arrest has transformed him into a cause célèbre for left-wing student groups, who claim he is being unfairly targeted for his activism.

Khalil, a key leader of Columbia United Apartheid Divest (CUAD), has been tied to extremist rhetoric, openly expressing sympathies for terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah, as reported by The NYP. His organization, CUAD, has not only advocated for boycotting Israel but has also promoted inflammatory messaging calling for the “end of Western civilization.” Despite the grave allegations surrounding his activities, a judge on Monday temporarily blocked any immediate deportation attempt, leaving his legal status in limbo.

The highly coordinated demonstration, orchestrated by the group “Jewish Voice for Peace,” quickly drew the attention of law enforcement and culminated in mass arrests that called attention to the growing tensions surrounding pro-Hamas, pro-terror activism in the city.

Jewish Voice for Peace is an organization that has long been associated with radical, anti-Israel activism. The group has played a prominent role in campus demonstrations across the country, including at Columbia University, where its chapter was suspended in 2023 for holding unauthorized protests in the wake of the October 7 terror attack in Israel.

According to the information provided in The New York Post report, approximately 150 protesters flooded the atrium level of Trump Tower around noon, targeting the public space near the Trump Grill restaurant. The demonstrators, many of whom had quietly entered the premises in civilian attire, revealed striking red shirts emblazoned with the slogan “Jews Say Stop Arming Israel” once they were positioned throughout the space. Their presence was not only symbolic but intentionally disruptive, as the group staged a sit-in intended to amplify their political message and spotlight Khalil’s detainment.

A protester at the rally declared, “As Jews, we refuse to be the scapegoats of fascism. We aren’t leaving and we call on all people of consciousness to join us and refuse to comply with Trump’s regime’s attacks.” The NYP reported that the demonstrators further demanded that colleges and universities cease cooperating with law enforcement in advance. “Columbia and every other university must start taking active measures to protect their students. We call for all universities to protect freedom of speech, collective protest, and to defend their students,” another activist proclaimed.

The NYPD, anticipating potential disturbances, moved swiftly. At roughly 12:30 p.m., officers descended upon the group and initiated mass arrests. As reported by The NYP, 98 protesters were taken into custody for trespassing, obstructing governmental administration, and resisting arrest. Many of those detained were zip-tied on-site and loaded onto MTA buses for transport to the NYPD’s mass arrest processing center at One Police Plaza.

“There were no injuries. There were no incidents. There was no damaged property,” NYPD Chief of Department John Chell stated, emphasizing the procedural and measured nature of the operation. Chell further explained that while the protest occurred in a public-access area, that designation has limits. “It’s open to the public to a point,” he clarified. Once Trump Tower security flagged the gathering as a security concern, they became the formal complainants, triggering the legal protocol for NYPD intervention.

Chell also noted that protesters had executed a familiar tactic: entering under the guise of regular patrons before revealing coordinated protest apparel. “They’re well-known to do this,” he told The NYP. The demonstration included placards with messages such as “Fight Nazis not students,” “No Muslim Ban Ever,” and “Jews for Palestinian Freedom.”

The protesters also vocalized their solidarity with Khalil and broader Palestinian advocacy goals via a livestream on the social platform X (formerly Twitter). “We are saying if you come for one of us, you face us all,” one protester proclaimed during the live broadcast, reiterating the group’s demands to “free Mahmoud and free Palestine.”

Despite the disruption, NYPD officials stressed the peaceful nature of the arrests. Some demonstrators complied with verbal warnings and exited voluntarily after repeated announcements via the department’s pager system. Others, however, remained steadfast on the lower floor and were forcibly removed, including several who had to be physically carried away from escalators, according to Chell’s account relayed by The NYP.

By approximately 1 p.m., the area had been fully cleared, but not before two MTA buses filled with detainees were observed arriving at police headquarters downtown.

Khalil’s case has ignited fierce debate over whether U.S. immigration laws should be used as a tool to address the rising wave of anti-Semitism on college campuses. The Trump administration has positioned itself as taking decisive action against anti-Israel agitation, particularly when it involves foreign nationals, as per The NYP report.  Advocates for Khalil argue that his detention represents an authoritarian crackdown on political dissent, while critics contend that his extremist affiliations justify his removal from the country.

JVP, which claims to be the “world’s largest Jewish organization standing in solidarity with Palestine,” has faced significant scrutiny for its activities. The NYP reported that In 2023, it was accused of violating campaign finance laws by failing to disclose the destinations of politically charged fundraising efforts. The group’s protests frequently involve inflammatory rhetoric, calls for divestment from Israel, and opposition to U.S. policies supporting the Jewish state.