Clashes Erupt on Ocean Parkway as Pro-Palestine and Pro-Israel Groups Confront Each Other Outside Brooklyn Synagogue (VIDEO)
- 17GEN4
- Apr 27
- 3 min read
BROOKLYN, NY — Tensions boiled over into violence on Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn on April 24, 2025, as pro-Palestine protesters and pro-Israel supporters clashed outside the Chabad-Lubavitch headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway. The confrontation, which led to multiple arrests, was sparked by the anticipated appearance of Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, whose visit to the synagogue was abruptly canceled. The incident highlighted deep divisions over Ben-Gvir’s controversial U.S. tour and the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
According to reports, pro-Palestine demonstrators gathered for an emergency protest outside the synagogue, condemning Ben-Gvir’s visit due to his hardline policies, including his support for intensified military actions in Gaza and past convictions for inciting racism and supporting a terrorist organization. Social media posts described a volatile scene, with pro-Palestine activists waving Palestinian flags and chanting slogans such as “Free Palestine” and “Ben-Gvir, you’re not welcome here.” Pro-Israel counter-demonstrators, including members of the Orthodox Jewish community, responded with their own chants and displays of Israeli flags, escalating tensions.
The situation deteriorated into physical altercations, with social media videos showing shoving matches, thrown objects, and at least one woman, draped in a kaffiyeh, bloodied amid the chaos. The New York Police Department (NYPD) reported six arrests, with charges including assault, criminal mischief, and incitement. One post on X claimed a stabbing occurred nearby, though this could not be independently verified by reputable sources. The NYPD set up barricades to separate the groups, but clashes persisted, with some alleging that police showed bias by arresting pro-Palestine protesters while protecting pro-Israel agitators. These claims remain unconfirmed by official reports.
The synagogue event was canceled, reportedly due to a death in the family of the planned moderator, though public backlash against Ben-Gvir’s appearance likely played a role. Rabbi Motti Seligson, a Chabad spokesperson, clarified that the event was not officially sanctioned by the synagogue’s leadership but was organized by community members. Ben-Gvir’s visit to the Chabad headquarters followed a pattern of cancellations during his U.S. tour, with synagogues in Brooklyn and Long Island scrapping events after protests from Jewish activists, Israeli expats, and others who view his extremist rhetoric as beyond the pale.
Ben-Gvir, a polarizing figure known for advocating Jewish sovereignty over the West Bank and supporting policies like deporting “disloyal” Arab citizens, has drawn fierce criticism during his U.S. visit. His tour included a speech at a Yale-affiliated Jewish society, a fundraiser at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, and visits to a Jewish school and a gun shop in Florida. Protests have followed him at every stop, with demonstrators in New Haven, Connecticut, hurling water bottles and chanting against his policies.
The Ocean Parkway clashes reflect broader fissures within the American Jewish community and beyond, as Ben-Gvir’s presence has reignited debates over Zionism, free speech, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. A prominent New York rabbi, quoted in Haaretz, described Ben-Gvir’s version of Zionism as “outside the bounds of legitimate Jewish discourse,” while supporters view him as a staunch defender of Israel’s security.
Local leaders condemned the violence, with some calling the protests antisemitic, though others argued the demonstrations were aimed at Ben-Gvir’s policies, not the Jewish community at large. The NYPD has not released further details on the arrests or injuries, and investigations are ongoing.
As Brooklyn reckons with the aftermath, the incident underscores the raw emotions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the challenges of navigating free expression and public safety in polarized times.
Sources:
Associated Press, “US visit by far-right Israeli minister draws tense protests and 'big fissures' in Jewish community,” April 25, 2025
The Times of Israel, “Anti-Israel protest against Ben Gvir outside NY synagogue provokes outrage,” April 25, 2025
Haaretz, “‘Get the Hell Out of Our City’: Far-right Israeli Minister Ben-Gvir Faces Fresh Protests and Cancellations as His U.S. Tour Limps on,” April 24, 2025
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