Chaos at NYC Israel Day Parade as masked protester storms procession holding ‘kill hostages now’ sign

Protesters clashed with each other Israel Day parade inside New York City on Sunday, with a masked man holding a “kill hostages now” sign.

This year’s parade focused on solidarity with Israel and calling for the release of the remaining 121 hostages in Gaza who were taken during Hamas‘s deadly attack on October 7.

One protester, dressed all in black and with his face covered by a balaclava despite the warm summer weather outside, carried a banner that read ‘kill hostages now’.

Another held up her phone with the message “They’re not coming home,” referring to the innocent Israelis taken hostage by the terror group.

The parade took place nearly eight months after Hamas terrorists attacked Israel on October 7, plunging the country into a war now mainly fought in Israel. Gaza.

The anti-Israel protester held up the disgusting sign during the annual Fifth Avenue Israel Day Parade on Sunday

Another anti-Israel protester held a sign on her phone that read “they’re not coming home,” in reference to the Israeli hostages being held by Hamas terrorists

Officers were seen trying to stop the vicious protester, who was wearing a mask to hide his face

Mark Treyger, the CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council, said the mood today is one of “confetti and music.”

“This is more an atmosphere of unwavering, rock-solid solidarity with hostages to bring them home, and also of our unwavering love and pride in our Jewish identity,” he said, according to the Associated Press.

The parade, which has been going on for nearly 60 years — this year will be the 59th — started at 11:30 a.m. at 57th and Fifth Avenue.

Organizers said they expected about 40,000 participants, including several official representatives of Israel, and some relatives of the hostages.

Treyger added that despite an alarmingly high increase in anti-Semitism since October 7, canceling the parade was never a consideration.

However, enhanced security was in place to help participants reach the moment.

Drones, K-9 units, bicycle patrols, fencing and barriers will all be in place along the approximately mile-long parade route.

On Friday, city officials said there had been no specific or credible threats prior to the event, and that protesters have the right to demonstrate as long as it remains peaceful.

Mayor Eric Adams, who has condemned the disruptive and sometimes unlawful behavior of anti-Israel protesters in the city, said: “We will not allow any illegality and any disruption to the celebration of anyone’s heritage in this city.”

Although there have been thousands of protests related to the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in New York According to Adams, Sunday’s parade will be the first large-scale Jewish event since October 7 since the outbreak of war.

During the parade on Sunday, Adams, who stood next to Israeli singer Eden Golan – who recently represented her country at the Eurovision Song Contest, said: “Our message is extremely clear. Destroy Hamas, bring the hostages home. Let us bring peace so that we do not lose lives of innocent people.”

Security has been beefed up significantly ahead of Sunday’s Israeli parade on Fifth Avenue on Manhattan’s Upper East Side

Paradegoers, families of the hostages and others prepared to march along 5th Avenue today

Parade goers march past Trump Tower on 5th Avenue

Participants held signs of hostages as they marched down Fifth Avenue

A small number of radical Hasidic Jews arrived to protest the Israel parade – their very small faction shows up to demonstrate most years

A small handful of ultra-Orthodox sects of Judaism, including groups like Neturei Karta and Satmar Hasidim, do not recognize the modern State of Israel

A large “Free Them Now” flag is raised during Israel Day’s fifth parade, which took place largely without incident on Sunday

Due to the continued grim conditions of the hostages and the war, there will be no music, bands or festive singing at this year’s parade.

The parade’s chorus will be “Bring Them Home,” the slogan that has become associated with the mission to return each of the hostages.

The event will end around 4pm on Sunday, after the full route has been completed. New York authorities expect this disruptions similar for those seen in the 2023 Thanksgiving Day Parade.

During the iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade late last year, protesters unveiled “Free Palestine” signs as they rode on floats and participated in the march.