Tensions flared in Borough Park, Brooklyn, on Tuesday evening as an anti-Israel protest organized by the Pal-Awda activist group met with strong opposition, resulting in several physical altercations. The demonstrators, expressing their condemnation of Israeli land sales, converged on the predominantly Orthodox Jewish neighborhood, chanting slogans such as "Zionists go to hell" and waving Palestinian flags. The protest targeted an event promoting real estate in Israel.

Counter-protesters, some displaying Israeli and MAGA flags and signs, assembled in opposition, separated by police barricades. Jewish residents observed the escalating situation from nearby sidewalks. The scene grew increasingly volatile, with multiple fights breaking out amidst the shouting and chanting. One individual, 42-year-old Anthony Frausto from Brooklyn, was arrested and charged with assault after allegedly punching a 61-year-old man, who received medical attention at the scene.

A large knife was observed on the ground, though police reported no confirmed instances of its use in any attacks. The anti-Israel demonstrators directed chants like, "How many kids did you kill today?" towards the Jewish community, with some making offensive gestures. Children returning home from local yeshivas witnessed the confrontations from their school buses. Additional chants included, "Settlers settlers go back home, Palestine is ours alone."

Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY), who represents parts of the Bronx, criticized the Pal-Awda group on social media, linking them to pro-Hamas sentiment and condemning the violence. He asserted that such actions are inherent to the "Free Palestine" movement and reflect a lack of genuine concern for Palestinian liberation from Hamas. The Borough Park protest follows a wave of anti-Israel demonstrations across the US in the wake of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks in Israel.