Hundreds of people arrived on both sides of the issue, with pro-Palestinian activists protesting the sale of properties they claim are located on land taken from Palestinians, including homes in communities in Yehuda and Shomron.

Organizers of the protest said the gathering was intended to pressure city officials and challenge the legitimacy of such events taking place in New York.

“We’re here today to send a message to the city and to send a message to the organizers that these kinds of events cannot and will not stand in New York City,” Taher Dahleh, the organizer with the Palestinian Youth movement, said.

The event itself featured Israeli real estate listings and agents offering assistance to prospective buyers interested in purchasing homes and navigating the buying process in Israel.

Some protesters waved Hezbollah flags overhead and chanted, “Globalize the intifada.”

The anti-Semites chanted, “Brick by brick, wall by wall, Israel will fall,” “Baby killers,” and, “Death to the IDF.” They held orange banners that read, “Israel is killing children.

Handful of protesters leaving scene of rally in Midwood pic.twitter.com/T41FtelfUp

— Luke Tress (@luketress) May 11, 2026

Those who came to support the event or oppose the protests argued that the pro-Hamas demonstrators were unfairly targeting a Jewish neighborhood and disrupting a community trying to go about daily life.

“There’s a synagogue here. This is clearly a [predominantly] Jewish neighborhood, and they deserve the right to worship in peace,” counterprotester Kasondra Watkins said.

The demonstrations unfolded as the New York City Council continues debating legislation related to protest “buffer zones.” Council members are currently considering whether to override Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s veto of a bill involving educational institutions.

Another measure creating buffer zones around houses of worship, however, was allowed to stand and was not vetoed by the mayor.

Local residents expressed concern that bringing the conflict into the center of Midwood has heightened anxiety and created tension in the neighborhood.

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{Matzav.com}