In Brooklyn, tensions between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian groups escalated after a woman was assaulted by pro-Israel demonstrators during a protest. The incident occurred near the Chabad Lubavitch World Headquarters, following a speech by Itamar Ben-Gvir, a controversial Israeli official known for his extremist views. The woman, who was not part of the protest, was surrounded, physically attacked, and verbally abused with sexist and racist slurs, leading to broader public protests against such aggression. The attacks have been condemned by various organizations, including the Chabad Lubavitch and the Anti-Defamation League, as well as groups critical of Israel. The incident highlights ongoing tensions in New York City as protests related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict continue to unfold, drawing thousands of participants over recent months.

A woman was assaulted by pro-Israel demonstrators in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, amid protests triggered by a speech from Itamar Ben-Gvir, an Israeli minister with a history of extremist views, sparking outrage and further demonstrations by pro-Palestinian supporters.

The woman, who was not actively participating in the protest, was encircled by a crowd that kicked her, threw objects, and hurled sexist, racist, and anti-Arab slurs, as evidenced by widely circulated video footage of the incident.

In response to the attack, pro-Palestinian demonstrators organized a rally starting from Barclays Center, aiming to reach the Chabad Lubavitch World Headquarters, but were largely kept at bay by a significant police presence.

The protests, part of a larger wave of demonstrations in New York following the outbreak of conflict between Hamas and Israel, have seen approximately 2,400 events, with increasing intensity over the past four months.

Condemnations of the violence have come from multiple directions, including Chabad Lubavitch representatives who denounce the actions as contrary to their values, as well as from organizations like the Anti-Defamation League and the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

The incident has been linked to the divisive figure of Itamar Ben-Gvir, whose visit to the U.S. has been marked by protests; he is known for his controversial past, including threats against former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and admiration for a perpetrator of a massacre against Palestinians.

The ongoing protests underscore the deep-seated and contentious nature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as it plays out on the streets of New York City, illustrating the global resonance and local impact of Middle Eastern geopolitics.