Thousands Rally in New York City to Protest Israel, Call for Aid to Gaza

New York: Several thousand protesters gathered in Manhattan on Saturday for one of the largest pro-Palestinian demonstrations in New York City in recent months.

The rally, titled “Stop Starving Gaza: Mass March for Humanity,” took place outside the New York Public Library near Bryant Park. It was organized by a coalition of Arab-led and far-left socialist groups.

Participants waved Palestinian flags and marched through the streets, chanting slogans such as “End the siege on Gaza now!” and beating spoons against pans to draw attention. Protesters held signs calling to “Stop starving Gaza,” “Stop killing journalists,” and “Defeat imperialist/Zionist genocidal war-makers.”

Speaking to the crowd, activist Mahmoud Khalil accused Israel of “deliberately killing Gazans with U.S. tax dollars.” Brian Becker of the far-left Answer Coalition added, “The U.S. government is standing with the fascist regime in Tel Aviv, but we, the American people, stand with you, the Palestinian people.”

Organizers emphasized the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and urged the international community to provide relief, while critics argued that such demonstrations could inflame political tensions.

The protest marked a significant moment for pro-Palestinian activism in the city, drawing attention to the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the role of U.S. foreign policy in the region.