Numerous pro-Palestine activists have faced criticism for taking over the streets of New York City on the second anniversary of the October 7 attacks in Israel.

Demonstrators in various Western nations, including the US and Canada, dedicated the day to honoring ‘the martyrs of Gaza’ amidst ongoing ceasefire discussions between Israel and Hamas in Egypt.

In New York City, hundreds gathered outside the Fox News building and on university campuses, brandishing Palestinian flags and chanting: ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.’

Mahmoud Khalil, a prominent figure in the contentious 2024 Columbia University pro-Gaza protests, played a significant role in organizing Tuesday’s demonstrations.

The former Columbia University student, who earlier faced potential deportation, was spotted addressing fellow demonstrators at the esteemed college.

“Our struggle pre-dates recent years; it began with the foundation of Zionist ideology in the 19th century,” said Khalil, a Syrian with Palestinian heritage.

‘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, Davis 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, with a painted street sign shared on X reading, ‘F**k Israel.’