Pro-Hamas Protesters Issue Warning to Israel Supporters at UWS Museum Demonstration: “Your Days Are Numbered”

Edited by: Fern Sidman

In a startling turn of events on Saturday, a pro-Hamas protest in New York City’s Columbus Circle escalated into a scene of tension and aggression, as was reported by the New York Post. Hundreds of demonstrators gathered, expressing their unconcealed hatred against Israel, but the protest took a chilling turn as an Israeli flag was set ablaze and dragged down the street. A menacing warning was issued to those supporting Israel when they were told by the supporters of Hamas terrorism that “your days are numbered.”

Happening now:
Protesters flood the Columbus Circle shopping center during Black Friday weekend chanting “while you’re shopping bombs are dropping!” pic.twitter.com/c2YNbmj5nq

— Josh Pacheco (They/Them) (@JP_OTG) November 25, 2023

“For those who support genocide in the U.S. your days are numbered and are coming to an end,” one organizer yelled into a microphone, the Post report said. “U.S. government is the #1 funder of Israel terrorism,” they continued.

The protesters, numbering around 300, began their demonstration at approximately 2 pm at Columbus Circle and marched towards the American Museum of Natural History on the West Side, the Post reported. Their chants echoed through the air, with messages condemning what they claimed was U.S. support for Israeli terrorism. According to the Post report, the atmosphere turned hostile as some protesters harassed individuals displaying pro-Israel signs, forcibly taking them away and screaming confrontational messages of a highly threatening nature.

100’s of protesters march through Columbus Circle shopping center flying a large banner reading “Free Palestine.” Protesters wave flags and signs at every level as the main group passes through. pic.twitter.com/Tdkr50bvIO

— Josh Pacheco (They/Them) (@JP_OTG) November 25, 2023

On October 7, thousands of Hamas terrorists invaded southern Israel communities and the Supernova Music Festival and slaughtered over 1200 Israelis and others in the most barbaric atrocities committed since the Holocaust. Women were sadistically raped, their bodies mutilated, babies were beheaded and scores were burned alive. Moreover, the Hamas terrorists abducted over 240 Israelis and others of all ages and took them into captivity.

A shocking incident involved the defacement of a statue of Abraham Lincoln at the museum on New York City’s upper west side. The iconic figure was wrapped in a Palestinian flag, and a sticker reading, “Every time the media lies, a neighborhood in Gaza dies,” was slapped on its hat, the Post report said. Such actions not only defaced a historical symbol but also demonstrated the intensity of emotions among the protesters.

The protest is now beginning with chants in front of the Shops and Columbus Circle

As per usual, a bunch of NYPD officers are guarding the entrances to the shops pic.twitter.com/OGwSV0BBKB

— katie smith (@probablyreadit) November 25, 2023

As the demonstration moved towards The Shops at Columbus Circle, store owners hastily closed their doors in response to the escalating situation. As was indicated in the Post report, the chant, “Bombs are dropping while you’re shopping,” reverberated through the shopping center, creating an unsettling environment.

The museum, anticipating the protest, had been barricaded, with around 30 police officers lining up to block entrances. As per the Post, protesters demanded entry, accusing the museum of prioritizing financial interests over solidarity with Palestine. Protesters demanded the cops move and allow them inside, chanting, “One, two, three, four, open up the museum’s doors.”

Nerdeen Kiswani, representing the pro-Palestinian group Within Our Lifetime, criticized the museum’s decision, claiming they were willing to lose significant revenue to avoid association with Palestine. According to Kiswani, the museum’s board allegedly includes individuals with Zionist affiliations. In reality, what Kiswani is actually saying is that certain individuals on the museum’s board are Jews who support the State of Israel and that is clearly anathema to Kiswani.

“The museum makes over a million dollars a day, so the fact that they are willing to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars to not be associated with Palestine really shows a lot, what cowards they are,” she claimed, the Post reported.

The protest also highlighted the demonstrators’ discontent with New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York Governor Kathy Hochul, accusing them of showing support for Israel, the Post report said. Both Adams and Hochul recently visited Israel.  The atmosphere became charged with chants like, “Israel bombs, USA pays, how many kids did you kill today?”

While tensions rose, police threatened to arrest protesters for vandalizing a Starbucks on West 64^th Street, the Post reported. However, as the crowd dispersed, no arrests were reported by the NYPD.

The events of this pro-Palestinian protest in New York City underscore the deep-seated emotions and divisions surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict, as well as the challenges in navigating peaceful demonstrations amid such passionate sentiments.