Terrorist-affiliated activists incite violence, chant 'Death to the IDF' in front of New York City synagogue

Around 200 pro-Hamas activists – many masked and wearing keffiyehs – gathered outside Manhattan’s Park East Synagogue on Wednesday night, chanting “Death to the IDF,” “We don’t want no Zionists here,” and “Resistance you make us proud, take another settler out.” To the beat of a drum, the crowd also shouted, “From New York to Gaza, globalize the intifada.”

Inside the synagogue, Nefesh B’nefesh – an organization that assists Jews in making Aliyah – was holding an event about immigration to Israel.   

The radical protesters admitted that the purpose of their disturbance outside the synagogue was to terrorize and harass the Jews inside:  

“It is our duty to make them think twice before holding these events. We need to make them scared. We need to make them scared. We need to make them scared,” one of the militants leading the chants told the crowd. 

According to the Times of Israel, calling for “Death to the IDF” was not previously common at pro-Hamas demonstrations in New York City, but the chant has gained international traction after the British punk rap duo Bob Vylan led the crowd in the chant at UK’s Glastonbury music festival in June.

In response to the demonstration, a small crowd of Jews gathered on the opposite sidewalk to counterprotest, blowing horns and whistles, while shouting, “You’re cowards,” and “You’re protesting at a synagogue.”

The pro-Hamas protest was organized by the radical Pal-Awda group, the NY/NJ branch of Al-Awda (The Palestine Right To Return Coalition). 

According to NGO-monitor, Pal-Awda is affiliated with terrorists.

“Al-Awda supported the October 7th invasion and is linked to Samidoun, a US-designated terrorist organization, and its officials have celebrated terrorist organizations such as Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).”

Furthermore, also according to NGO-monitor, “On October 7, 2023, Al-Awda released a statement emphasizing its ‘unwavering support of the Palestinian resistance,’ adding ‘The Palestinian resistance, through their brave actions, are forging a path to bring the ongoing Nakba to an end.’”

The protest was advertised around New York City by other radical activists, such as Jewish Voice for Peace and multiple activist student groups, including from Columbia University. 

Pal-Awda advertised the event as, “No settlers on stolen land. Protest the settler recruiting fair.”

Pal-Awda has been at the forefront of terrorizing several Jewish events in New York, including the February 2025 antisemitic riot that took place in the Boro Park neighborhood on Feb. 18, 2025.  

“On February 18, 2025, antisemitic rioters descended on Jews in the Boro Park neighborhood in New York,” NGO-monitor wrote. “The riot was organized by Pal-Awda… which encouraged participants to 'Flood Boro Park,' a reference to Hamas’ name for the October 7th massacre (the Al-Aqsa Flood). 

Newly elected Mayor Zohran last year defended the chant, “Globalize the intifada,” which was used at the Wednesday protest, and only said he would “discourage it” after coming under massive pressure.