Anti-Israel Protesters Clash With NYPD Outside Park East Synagogue Real Estate Event

Hundreds of anti-Israel protesters gathered Tuesday night outside Park East Synagogue in Manhattan during an Israeli real estate event, clashing with NYPD officers as demonstrators attempted to push through police barricades surrounding the synagogue.

Videos from the scene showed protesters waving Palestinian flags, beating drums, and shouting slogans including “Israel should not exist,” “Stop the sale of stolen land,” and “Death to the IDF” outside the synagogue. The demonstration took place during an event promoting Israeli real estate projects, including properties in Judea and Samaria, according to critics of the expo.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BREAKING: Barricades clashes continue between anti Israel protesters and the NYPD during the march from Park East Synagogue &quot;Land Sale&quot; event. <a href="https://t.co/xJZ4ZPWwjh">pic.twitter.com/xJZ4ZPWwjh</a></p>&mdash; Oliya Scootercaster ? (@ScooterCasterNY) <a href="https://twitter.com/ScooterCasterNY/status/2051829009772622180?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 6, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The protest quickly became one of the first major tests of New York City’s new synagogue security law, passed after earlier demonstrations outside the same synagogue sparked backlash from Jewish organizations and city officials. The law requires the NYPD to prepare security plans for protests near houses of worship, including possible buffer zones and crowd-control measures.

Police erected barricades around the synagogue before the 7 p.m. demonstration as protesters organized by Pal-Awda NY/NJ gathered nearby. Footage showed officers repeatedly pushing demonstrators back onto the sidewalk while shouting “step back” as some protesters tried to move past the barriers.

According to the NYPD, one officer suffered a leg injury during the clashes and was transported to a hospital. No arrests were reported Tuesday night.

Additional footage and eyewitness accounts showed protesters chanting “There is only one solution, Intifada revolution” and “We don’t want no two states, we remember ’48.” Multiple reports also said a Hezbollah flag was visible among the crowd during the demonstration.

Counter-protesters gathered nearby waving Israeli flags and confronting demonstrators verbally across police lines.

“They’re a bunch of brainwashed fools,” Karen Lichtbraun of the Zionist group Herut New York City told the New York Post.

“Israel does not occupy anything. It’s the Jewish homeland. And this is all anti-Zionism, which is antisemitism, which is Jew hate,” she said.

The protest also renewed scrutiny on Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who previously criticized the real estate expo through spokesman Sam Raskin because it included properties in Judea and Samaria. Mamdani had not publicly commented on the clashes as of Tuesday night.

The controversy comes months after another large anti-Israel protest outside the same synagogue during an aliyah-related event hosted by Nefesh B’Nefesh. Demonstrators at that November protest shouted “Death to the IDF” and “We need to make them scared,” according to multiple reports.

Following that demonstration, Julie Menin introduced legislation requiring the NYPD to establish plans for handling protests near houses of worship. The bill passed with a veto-proof majority and became law automatically in April after the mayor did not sign or veto it.

Under the law, the NYPD must now develop procedures addressing obstruction, intimidation, and possible violence during demonstrations outside religious institutions. The department has 90 days to finalize its implementation plan.

Later Tuesday night, part of the demonstration moved toward Hunter College, where another anti-Israel protest took place involving roughly 200 marchers. Police said water was thrown at officers from a nearby building during the march.