NYC Gaza protest draws thousands

A large pro-Palestinian protest in Manhattan draws thousands, criticizing U.S. support for Israel and calling to end the Gaza siege.

Thousands protest Gaza siege in New York City

New York City hosted several thousand protesters on Saturday for the largest pro-Palestinian demonstration in months. The march, titled Stop Starving Gaza: Mass March for Humanity, began near Bryant Park and moved toward midtown Manhattan in front of the New York Public Library. Organizers described a broad coalition, including Arab-led groups and left‑wing organizations such as the People’s Forum, ANSWER Coalition, the Democratic Socialists of America, CodePink, and the Council on American-Islamic Relations, along with the Palestinian Youth Movement, the Arab American Association of New York, and the Jewish Voice for Peace. Protesters waved Palestinian flags, beat spoons on pots, and chanted calls to end the siege and to stop killings of journalists.

Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestinian activist who was released from federal detention in June after an earlier arrest, addressed the crowd and said that Israel is destroying Gaza in a systematic and deliberate way and that the United States is backing the action with bombs and tax money. Organizers said more than 200 groups from across the United States supported the rally and that participants were bused in from six states and Washington DC. The event comes as protests in New York have cooled in recent months but are re-emerging ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in September.

The march shows how anti‑Israel activism has broadened from campus networks to national coalitions. It links U.S. policy, media narratives, and humanitarian concerns, arguing for action to end the siege of Gaza. The use of public space and the lineup of groups illustrate a new wave of mobilization ahead of international diplomacy.

At the same time, the gathering highlights tensions inside activist circles. Rhetoric that frames U.S. funding as a direct enabler of violence may intensify political fault lines and provoke backlash from supporters of Israel. Officials and onlookers may worry about safety near busy landmarks as protests scale up around major diplomatic events.

Highlights

The city will watch how these marches influence the debate on U.S. policy toward Gaza.