Fury on the streets of NYC as thousands of anti-Israel protesters clash with cops after shutting down traffic and refusing to leave: NYPD offers are seen brawling with demonstrators waving Palestinian flags

  • Thousands of anti-Israel protesters clashed with police in Bay Ridge after refusing to leave the Brooklyn suburb, which they flooded on Saturday.
  • Chaos broke out at the ‘Flood Brooklyn for Palestine’ demonstration as night fell, with protesters blocking traffic, shouting at police and lighting small fires

Chaos broke out between anti-Israel protesters and police in Brooklyn after thousands flooded a predominantly Arab and Middle Eastern neighborhood on Saturday evening.

The protests were held in Bay Ridge and saw thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators chanting, “Get out of the way, police, get out of the way.” We know you received Israeli training as they descended on the community, stopping traffic and setting fires.

The protesters, part of a procession billed online as Flood Brooklyn for Palestine, began clashing with police as night fell, video shows — as their numbers grew over the course of the day to an estimated 5,000.

NYPD officers were then filmed trying to lead them out of an intersection along Fifth Avenue where they had shut down traffic, arresting and taking into custody an unspecified number of pro-Palestinians.

Several people punched demonstrators in the melee, which came after demonstrators gathered to demand that the US withdraw support for Israel. Armed with Palestinian flags and signs, many of the group refused to comply with police demands.

More to come.

Chaos broke out between anti-Israel protesters and police in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn on Saturday evening – after thousands flooded the predominantly Arab and Middle Eastern neighborhood to demand the US stop supporting the country

Several people were seen punching protesters in the melee, which reached a tipping point in the evening after it increased to around 5,000 protesters.  Armed with Palestinian flags and signs, many of the group refused to comply with police demands

Several people were seen punching protesters in the melee, which reached a tipping point in the evening after it increased to around 5,000 protesters. Armed with Palestinian flags and signs, many of the group refused to comply with police demands

‘Say it loud, say it clear, we don’t want Zionists here!’ Protesters from across the city shouted from the frenzy, which was largely confined around 72nd Street and Fifth Avenue.

‘We will liberate Palestine within our lifetime!’ Others shouted, touting signs that read: “We stand with Palestine” and “Once upon a time… There was humanity,” along with other similar sentiments.

Meanwhile, other, more radical revelers — who ranged in age from young teens to seniors — held signs with scribbles that read, “Zionism is genocide,” and that “Resistance is justified when people are occupied.”

The messages appeared to ignore – and even exonerate – the crimes Hamas has committed since October 9, including the kidnapping of several Israeli and American citizens in an apparent declaration of war.

While the conflict is now raging abroad, domestic divisions have since emerged in the United States, prompting dueling demonstrations across the country.

Bay Ridge was no different on Saturday – despite pro-Israelis being kept away from the procession by members of the NYPD.

However, images from the area during the night showed the demonstration still continuing – with officers tasked with keeping the chaos under control quickly becoming overwhelmed as the group grew.

Chaos broke out between anti-Israel protesters and police in Brooklyn after thousands flooded the neighborhood on Saturday evening

Chaos broke out between anti-Israel protesters and police in Brooklyn after thousands flooded the neighborhood on Saturday evening