Groups of pro-Palestine protesters have faced criticism for taking over New York City streets on the anniversary of the October 7 terror attacks in Israel.  

Demonstrators in several Western nations, including the US and Canada, have dedicated the day to marching in remembrance of the ‘martyrs of Gaza,’ amid ongoing ceasefire discussions between Israel and Hamas in Egypt.

In New York City, a crowd of protesters has assembled near the Fox News building in Midtown and at various college campuses, carrying Palestinian flags and chanting: ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.’ 

Activist Mahmoud Khalil, known for his leading role in the divisive 2024 Columbia University pro-Gaza protests, has been a vocal figure in Tuesday’s events.

The former Columbia University graduate student, who was previously threatened with deportation, was seen speaking to other protestors in front of the prestigious college.

‘Our struggle did not start last year or the year before. It started by the inception of the Zionist ideology, back in the 19th century,’ the Syrian native with roots in Palestine said. 

‘On the racist idea that a land without a people for people without a land. This is a very racist idea that we see today.’ 

He described Israel as ‘stolen’ land and asserted that he ‘will not be silenced.’  

But these protests have been heavily criticized as insensitive and antisemitic, as exactly two years ago, Hamas killed more than 1,200 innocent Israelis. 

Shocking video of the protests shows demonstrators stomping on Israeli flags, shouting ‘long live October 7th.’ 

‘I think that hosting protests on October 7 is nothing less than sympathizing with a terrorist organization,’ Ilan Sinelnikov, the President of the Students Supporting Israel national organization, told the Daily Mail. 

He continued: ‘1,200 people were killed in a matter of eight hours. I have seen fliers from different clubs across the country who are celebrating this. 

‘I think it’s a provocation, it’s glorifying and sympathizing with terrorism. All over the world there are anti-Israel protests.’

Baruch Apisdorf, the CEO of Let’s Do Something, a pro-Israel group founded after the October 7 attacks, has described the harrowing terrorist attack as the ‘only terror attack in history where the victims were blamed.’

‘We need to think about why that is.’ 

On Monday, Columbia University’s Butler Lawn was lined with 1,205 empty chairs, symbolizing the lives lost in the October 7 massacre. Let’s Do Something set up the tear-jerking memorial.

Last year, the lawn was overtaken by a pro-Palestine tent city. It became the scene of clashes between protestors and Jewish students. 

‘From what we were expecting and what we have all seen on the Columbia University campus the last two years, we got a positive response [to the memorial],’ Apisdorf, whose best friend, David Newman, was killed in the October 7 attacks, told the Daily Mail.

‘The worst reactions we got were from professors. We had a few who were coming up and saying, “how could you do this? There have been 60,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza and you are genociders.”

‘It’s pretty absurd to me that they would say that. There are a lot of students and professors involved in the Jew hatred.’ 

Beyond the university, Tuesday’s protestors have adamantly shared their stance against Israel through their sentiments and signs.

One sign, painted to look like a street sign, read ‘F**k Israel Ln.’ Other banners flaunted in front of the Fox News building read ‘An injury to Palestine is an injury to all’ and ‘We honor all our martyrs.’ 

Many of the demonstrators were seen with their faces covered with masks and sunglasses. 

Just as Apisdorf and Sinelnikov saw the pro-Palestine demonstrations as anti-Israel, other critics denounced the activities online.

‘They just LOVE the death of Jews,’ one X user said in reaction to a video of the shouting crowd in front of the Fox News building, which featured yet another sign reading, ‘F**k Israel.’

It has been two years since thousands of Hamas-led militants poured into southern Israel after a surprise barrage of rockets.

They stormed army bases, farming communities and the Nova music festival, killing 1,205 people, including 38 children, 736 Israeli civilians, and 379 members of the security forces.

Hamas also abducted 251 more people, some of whom have been released through ceasefire deals, while many died in captivity.

Forty-eight hostages remain inside Gaza, and around 20 of them are believed by Israel to be still alive.