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| Muslim protesters clash with Borough Park Brooklyn, neighborhood Jews defending a live-in Israel, real-estate fair. (Photo courtesy: The Times of India) |
Last night, the streets of Borough Park, Brooklyn, known for its Orthodox Jewish community, transformed into a battleground of ideologies. On February 18, 2025, the anti-Israel group Pal-Awda organized a protest against a real estate fair turned volatile, leading to clashes between pro-Palestinian demonstrators and local Jewish residents.
Video courtesy: Search Sift
The demonstration was initially set to protest what was described as the sale of "stolen Palestinian land." However, the location near several synagogues in Borough Park sparked immediate concern among community leaders and residents. The chants of "Zionists go to hell" and "settlers settlers go back home, Palestine is ours alone" were not just heard but felt through the neighborhood, escalating tensions.
As the evening progressed, the situation deteriorated. Protesters, shouting slogans like "How many kids did you kill today?" and making offensive gestures towards Jewish residents, crossed the line from political expression into targeted harassment. The Jewish community responded with a demonstration of their own, waving Israeli flags and defended their neighborhood's sacred spaces.
Orthodox Brooklynites defend their neighborhood from anti-Zionists including Neturei Karta Hassids from northern NYC suburbs. Video courtesy: FreedomNews TV / ScooterCaster
The confrontation led to physical altercations. Videos shared on social media captured moments where the crowd broke through police lines, resulting in a scuffle that required immediate intervention by law enforcement. Police arrested Rohann Gill, a 28-year-old Pakistani registered male nurse from Brooklyn. He reportedly spent his summer at a Hamas Youth Camp. He was arrested for reportedly attempting to stab Jewish counter-protesters. The atmosphere remained charged with emotion and fear.
This incident wasn't isolated but part of a worrying trend where anti-Israel protests in New York have increasingly overlapped with antisemitic acts. The Jewish community in Borough Park, one of the largest Orthodox Jewish communities outside of Israel, has been a repeated target. This attack on their peace and sanctity of their religious spaces is not just an assault on individuals but on the community's right to live safely and freely.
The melee mirrors an incident in Los Angeles last summer where attendees to a similar relocate-to- Israel fair was mobbed outside Adas Torah Synagogue.
Local New York City leaders and elected officials were quick to condemn the violence. Congressman Dan Goldman described the event as a "deliberate harassment of one of the largest Orthodox Jewish communities in the U.S.," emphasizing that targeting Jews because of Israel's actions is pure antisemitism. Such statements underline the broader implications of these protests, which many see not just as political activism but as acts of hate.
The aftermath of last night's events leaves the community wondering how to move forward. There's a call for increased security, for dialogue, and for a stronger stance against antisemitism that masks itself under political protest. The Jewish community of Borough Park has shown resilience, but there's a growing sentiment that more must be done to prevent such incidents from recurring.
This event serves as a stark reminder of the thin line between protest and prejudice, between expressing a political view and attacking a community. As we move forward, it's crucial for all parties to reflect on how to ensure that the right to protest does not infringe upon the rights of others to live in peace and practice their faith without fear.
You can see how innocuous the emigration fair was in L.A. as organizer, Gidon Katz, describes. Most of the residences - houses and condominiums - are located in Israel proper, not in the disputed territories.
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