Anti-Israel Activists Target Brooklyn Synagogue For Second NYC Protest

Anti-Israel protesters waving Palestinian and Hezbollah flags gathered outside Young Israel of Midwood in Brooklyn on Monday night, where a real estate event promoting property in Israel and Judea and Samaria was being held. NYPD officers detained at least three people during clashes between protesters, counter-protesters and police, according to reports.

NOW: Police Take Down protester and detain him during confrontations near Young Israel Synagogue of Midwood between protesters of "Land Sale" event and Israel supporters in Brooklyn pic.twitter.com/NUphG0ckfR

— Oliya Scootercaster ? (@ScooterCasterNY) May 12, 2026

The confrontation came less than a week after a similar protest outside Park East Synagogue in Manhattan, where activists also targeted an Israeli real estate event. The two incidents have intensified concern among Jewish leaders and city officials over demonstrations outside synagogues and houses of worship in New York.

Masked and keffiyeh-clad protesters gathered across from the Brooklyn synagogue after PAL-Awda NY/NJ called for a rally against the event. Videos posted from the scene showed NYPD officers setting up barriers to keep demonstrators away from the synagogue entrance.

“Brick by brick, wall by wall, Zionism will fall,” protesters chanted, according to videos cited by reports. Other chants included calls to “globalize the intifada,” while signs accused Israel of killing children and called to “Abolish Israel.”

Police separated the anti-Israel protesters from counter-protesters, including Jewish and pro-Israel demonstrators who came to support the community. At least three people were detained, including two teenage pro-Israel protesters and one anti-Israel demonstrator. Police said those taken into custody had allegedly thrown items during the protest, according to the report.

Video cited by the Post appeared to show a masked person pulling a girl’s hair during one confrontation and nearly throwing her against a parked car. Other footage showed protesters and counter-protesters shouting at each other as police moved through the crowd.

The protest targeted the Great Israeli Real Estate event, which advertised properties in Israel and listed some communities in Judea and Samaria. PAL-Awda accused the organizers of promoting “stolen Palestinian land” and said the event should not be allowed to take place in New York.

Taher Dahleh, identified by NY1 as an organizer with the Palestinian Youth Movement, said the protest was meant to send a message to the city and to the organizers.

“We’re here today to send a message to the city and to send a message to the organizers that these kinds of events cannot and will not stand in New York City,” he said.

Event organizer Yaacov Epstein urged registrants ahead of the exposition not to be intimidated by the protest.

“We will continue to build, grow, and stand strong together - and we will not allow those who wish to disturb the event to weaken our spirit and unity,” Epstein wrote in an email to participants.

Chaos is erupting as jih@dist try to take over the area. Nypd have no control of the crowd. Despite the 400 cops in Midwood pic.twitter.com/NfgwSHUWDL

— just me ?? ?? (@PhuckYourVax) May 11, 2026

Counter-protester Kasondra Watkins told NY1 that the location of the protest mattered.

“There’s a synagogue here. This is clearly a [predominantly] Jewish neighborhood, and they deserve the right to worship in peace,” she said.

The Brooklyn protest followed the May 5 demonstration outside Park East Synagogue in Manhattan, also organized against an Israeli real estate event. During that protest, police held demonstrators behind barriers for several hours. One officer was hospitalized with a leg injury after a struggle over the barriers, according to reports, and no arrests were made.

The clashes have renewed attention on security measures around houses of worship. City Council Speaker Julie Menin has pushed a buffer-zone law requiring the NYPD to prepare security plans when protests are expected near synagogues, churches, mosques and other religious sites.

For Jewish leaders and residents in Brooklyn, Monday night’s confrontation added to fears that anti-Israel activism is increasingly being directed at synagogue spaces. For the protesters, the real estate events remain their stated target.